Samji Gayo Chu

This document is a collection of dialogues between a spiritual teacher ("Maharaj Saheb") and various disciples who present their life's dilemmas and seek guidance. The book, "Samji Gayo Chu" by Ratnasundarsuri, addresses common human struggles related to personal conduct, societal pressures, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth from a Jain perspective.

Here's a summary of the key themes and advice given in each dialogue:

Page 1-2: Environment vs. Inner Strength

• Dilemma: A disciple expresses an inability to follow religious and ethical principles due to a corrupted environment.
• Advice: The teacher uses a cricket analogy (Eden Gardens) to explain that external circumstances don't dictate inner success. Just as a batsman can fail despite supportive crowds or succeed against odds, individuals must cultivate inner strength to progress on the spiritual path, regardless of their environment. Dwelling on environmental negativity prevents personal growth.

Page 3-4: The Power of Love vs. The Attraction of Power

• Dilemma: A disciple believes people only love those with power and questions the value of anything else.
• Advice: The teacher highlights historical figures who wielded immense power (like Duryodhana, Hitler, Genghis Khan) and their negative impact, and ultimately their downfall. Power without love leads to internal unrest and external conflict. True peace comes from faith in the "power of love," not the love of power. Power without love harms oneself first.

Page 5-6: Conflict with Others and Self

• Dilemma: A disciple feels they have conflicts with everyone, leading to unhappiness.
• Advice: The teacher points out that conflict with others stems from conflict with oneself. This disciple has a negative outlook, constantly focusing on what's wrong rather than what's right, even in their own life (e.g., focusing on a disturbed sleep rather than restful sleep). The solution is to make peace with oneself by adopting a positive attitude and focusing on the good.

Page 7-8: Understanding the Mind and Conscience

• Dilemma: A disciple seeks to understand the difference between the mind and the conscience.
• Advice: The mind is described as concerned only with one's own happiness, while the conscience (antahkaran) considers both happiness and true well-being (hit). The mind desires possessions and happiness even through wrongdoing, while the conscience prioritizes well-being, even if it means accepting hardship. The key is to heed the conscience, which is a true well-wisher, even though it's harder than ignoring the mind's desires.

Page 9-10: The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency and the Dangers of Ego

• Dilemma: A disciple, successful in their endeavors, feels they need no one and develops an ego.
• Advice: The teacher uses the analogy of a closed fist holding water to show human weakness and dependence. Excessive ego is a worthless asset to be discarded. True wealth comes from humility and letting go of ego, while clinging to it leads to poverty of spirit and unhappiness.

Page 11-12: Worrying About Others' Opinions

• Dilemma: A disciple is constantly worried about what others think, especially when doing good deeds.
• Advice: The true measure of any action is whether it brings inner joy and satisfaction to one's own conscience. If you are happy with your actions, others' opinions become secondary. Conversely, when engaging in wrong actions, one should be mindful of others' judgments. By aligning actions with inner peace, the need for external validation diminishes.

Page 13-14: Self-Centered Efforts vs. Efforts for Others

• Dilemma: A disciple works hard for personal happiness and peace but feels the results don't match their efforts.
• Advice: The teacher states that efforts solely focused on "self" yield limited returns. True fulfillment comes from actions that benefit "others" or "all." Nature exemplifies this through selfless giving (sun, clouds, trees, rivers). Focusing on selfless actions leads to unexpected positive outcomes.

Page 15-16: Fate vs. Effort

• Dilemma: A disciple questions whether fate or effort is more powerful, as they feel their destiny dictates outcomes.
• Advice: Fate helps those who don't rely solely on it. Effort (purusharth) creates destiny. However, effort's results are not always immediate; they manifest in their own time, like seeds growing into crops. Righteous effort leads to good fortune, and wrong effort leads to misfortune. One must choose their efforts wisely.

Page 17-18: Seeking External Validation for Good Deeds

• Dilemma: A disciple feels disheartened when their good deeds go unnoticed or unappreciated, even considering abandoning them.
• Advice: Just as trees or wells don't display plaques for their benefactors, good deeds should be done for inner satisfaction, not external recognition. The joy derived from the act itself is the true reward. Expecting praise can lead to disappointment.

Page 19-20: The Nature of Happiness

• Dilemma: A disciple questions if happiness is merely a word in the dictionary, as material gains and fame don't bring it.
• Advice: Happiness is an experience, but it requires understanding the right "keys" (actions/attitudes) for the right "locks" (types of happiness). Sweet words bring relational happiness, love brings joy, contentment brings peace, adherence to limits brings purity, letting go brings relief, and faith brings spiritual happiness. Using the wrong key won't open the lock, and even with the right key, not knowing where to use it leads to unhappiness.

Page 21-22: Fear of the Past and Future

• Dilemma: A disciple is constantly haunted by past suffering and fears its recurrence, making the present miserable.
• Advice: The past is dead, and the future is unknown. The only reality is the present. Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future robs one of the present. Time is only in the present; past memories and future imaginations are also present experiences. Focus on the present moment, not on the past below or the future above.

Page 23-24: Emptiness Despite External Success

• Dilemma: A disciple is externally successful but feels hollow, lacking enthusiasm and inner life.
• Advice: The core issue is a lack of "sensitivity" (samvedana), replaced by "pain" (vedana). There's "contact" (sampark) but no "relationship" (sambandh), and "possessions" (samagri) but no "contentment" (santosh). Sensitivity, relationships, and contentment are like well water (replenished), while pain, contact, and possessions are like stored water (finite). The disciple has loved the name of love but lived a life devoid of its essence. Prioritizing health, success, and intellect over sensitivity leads to this emptiness.

Page 25-26: The Unpredictability of the Mind

• Dilemma: A disciple questions if a strong mind needs to fear temptations.
• Advice: A mind's strength is tested only when faced with temptation. The mind is inherently deceptive and can be like fire or a sword. Just as we shouldn't challenge the wise, we shouldn't dismiss the warnings of enlightened beings regarding the mind's nature. The mind's true nature is not our friend, but it can be skillfully managed.

Page 27-28: The Necessity of Rules and Discipline

• Dilemma: A disciple observes animals living freely without rules and wonders if human rules cause misery.
• Advice: Life, like any game, requires rules and discipline. The absence of rules or governing bodies leads to chaos, as seen in traffic signals or legal systems. The teacher points out that disciplined animals often fare better than wild ones. Freedom without responsibility leads to more problems.

Page 29-30: Neglecting the Near and Dear

• Dilemma: A disciple tends to overlook or neglect those close to them, leading to misunderstandings.
• Advice: Just as we don't take money or our body for granted, we shouldn't neglect loved ones. The teacher suggests this tendency is natural but detrimental. If we care for our eyes and heart, why neglect our family? Loving those close to us brings God closer.

Page 31-32: The Missing Element of Sensitivity for Happiness

• Dilemma: Despite achieving success, wealth, and fame, a disciple lacks the expected happiness.
• Advice: Happiness is intrinsically linked to "sensitivity" (samvedanshilta). Wealth and fame alone cannot bring joy. Just as dull senses cannot appreciate taste or music, an insensitive heart cannot feel happiness in relationships or spiritual pursuits. The lack of sensitivity, often due to ego, creates a distance from true happiness.

Page 33-34: Perspective and Gratitude

• Dilemma: A disciple feels overwhelmed by difficulties and contemplates extreme measures.
• Advice: The teacher advises looking at the suffering of others. Many face far greater hardships (orphans, parents who lost children, poverty, disease, lack of basic necessities). By comparing one's situation to those less fortunate, one's own problems seem insignificant, fostering gratitude and reducing distress.

Page 35-36: Rights vs. Duties

• Dilemma: A disciple feels they are not receiving their rightful due, both professionally and within their family, and questions whether to fight for their rights.
• Advice: The current era prioritizes rights over duties. The teacher asks if the disciple is as aware of their duties as they are of their rights. Fulfilling duties naturally leads to receiving rights. The focus should be on performing one's duties, not just demanding rights, to achieve inner peace.

Page 37-38: Navigating Disapproval

• Dilemma: A disciple's activities, even good ones, are often disapproved of by loved ones, causing distress.
• Advice: It's impossible to please everyone. Even the teacher faced disapproval for becoming a monk. The key is to avoid activities deemed unethical or wrong by noble individuals. Living solely to please others stunts growth. Focus on the opinion of good people rather than seeking universal approval.

Page 39-40: Maintaining Purity in a Corrupt World

• Dilemma: A disciple feels the world has become a synonym for downfall, with temptations everywhere.
• Advice: Just as forest dwellers must protect themselves from wild animals, those in the world must protect their purity from temptations. Downfall originates from within, not external circumstances. If the mind is not ready to fall, external factors cannot cause it. One must consciously choose to be uplifted by positive influences, not succumb to negative ones.

Page 41-42: Redefining Success

• Dilemma: A disciple desires success in all aspects of life, avoiding failure at all costs.
• Advice: True success should not come at the cost of inner goodness. Success that leads to loss of happiness, friends, peace, or purity is not true success. The teacher uses analogies of protecting spectacles while neglecting eyes or boots while neglecting feet. Losing inner goodness for external achievements is a far greater mistake than historical errors, as it corrupts the very foundation of life's calculations.

Page 43-44: True vs. Fleeting Success

• Dilemma: A disciple has reached a pinnacle of success and seeks advice on how to make it everlasting and unchallenged.
• Advice: The teacher dismisses this definition of success as fleeting, like a bubble. True success is not about unchallenged dominance. The analogy of the sun and moon illustrates this. The sun's brilliance overshadows others, earning it the title "Dada" (grandfather), while the moon, though less brilliant, allows other stars to shine, earning it the affectionate "Mama" (uncle). One should strive to be like the moon, not the sun, fostering others' growth.

Page 45-46: Overcoming Fear

• Dilemma: A disciple is plagued by fear despite favorable circumstances and inner strength, leading to inaction.
• Advice: Fear is like a guest that, once welcomed, becomes the master. Instead of being a timid sheep, one should strive to be a courageous lion. The key is to be present-focused ("What is happening?") rather than future-fear-driven ("What will happen?"). By confronting the present reality and not indulging imagined fears, one can overcome them.

Page 47-48: Investing Wealth Wisely

• Dilemma: A disciple has lost wealth through various investments and asks where to invest it safely.
• Advice: The safest "investment" for wealth is through its "use" or "donation" (tyaga, sadupyog, daan). This is counter-intuitive, as people often view donation as spending. The teacher emphasizes that sowing seeds (donation) in the field of righteousness yields true returns, far more than any bank or land.

Page 49-50: Making Good Deeds Happen

• Dilemma: A disciple desires to do good deeds but struggles to find favorable circumstances, leading to unfulfilled aspirations.
• Advice: Waiting for ideal circumstances is futile; time and opportunities will pass. Use whatever resources and circumstances are currently available. The mind is fickle and can change its intentions. Don't let the fear of losing the entire collection deter you from pursuing even a small part.

Page 51-52: The Importance of Ignoring Negative Opinions

• Dilemma: A disciple seeks guidance on maintaining good deeds amidst societal criticism.
• Advice: While good company, environment, and literature are important, the most crucial step is the courage to ignore the masses, who often misunderstand and criticize good deeds. They may consider morality, purity, and spirituality as backwardness. True success lies in persevering with good actions despite opposition, differentiating between the opinions of the wise and the crowd.

Page 53-54: Foolishness vs. Ignorance

• Dilemma: A disciple questions if the mind is foolish for not acting on what it knows is right.
• Advice: Ignorance is not knowing right from wrong. But knowing right from wrong and deliberately choosing not to act is "foolishness" (moodhata), a more serious flaw than mere ignorance. The world is suffering not from ignorance but from foolishness, particularly from educated but unprincipled people. The rise of foolishness is more dangerous than the increase of ignorance.

Page 55-56: The Futility of Anger

• Dilemma: A disciple asks if anger should be directed at unworthy individuals, fearing the world will be overrun by them if not.
• Advice: Anger, even at the unworthy, diminishes one's own caliber. Like boiling water reflecting unclearly, or hot milk not solidifying, anger prevents clear perception and acceptance of good counsel. Anger cannot change others; only love and gentle words can. If the goal is to make the unworthy worthy, love is more effective than anger.

Page 57-58: Compromise and Inner Peace

• Dilemma: A disciple compromises to resolve conflicts but feels a lingering sense of being "suppressed," causing unrest.
• Advice: Justice often pleases one party while displeasing another, while compromise aims to satisfy both, albeit partially. It's better to compromise even if the mind feels slightly displeased, as the mind's fleeting satisfaction is less important than inner peace. Don't let the trivial opinions of others lead you to accept wrongdoing.

Page 59-60: The Law of Focus: What You Don't Want vs. What You Want

• Dilemma: A disciple desires to avoid failure, despair, and negativity but experiences them.
• Advice: The mistake is focusing on what one doesn't want. The law of focus dictates that concentrating on avoiding failure attracts failure. The true goal should be to focus on achieving success, winning, or positive outcomes. The teacher uses the analogy of a businessman aiming for profit and a cricketer aiming to win. The teacher's own path to spiritual joy came from focusing on worship (aradhana) rather than avoiding transgression (viradhana).

Page 61-62: Stewardship of the Body

• Dilemma: A disciple, enjoying good health, questions whether to indulge or live a life of restraint.
• Advice: Just as a homeowner cares for their house more than their possessions, the soul (Atma) must care for the body. Living with the body is different from living for the body. Indulgent pleasures can lead to illness and drain the body's strength needed for spiritual practice. Restraint is essential for a healthy and purposeful life.

Page 63-64: The Potential of Good Thoughts

• Dilemma: A disciple questions the value of good thoughts that don't translate into action.
• Advice: Good thoughts are like seeds; they may not be visible, but with nourishment, they can grow. It is better to have unmanifested good thoughts than to act on bad ones. The teacher thanks the disciple for at least nurturing good thoughts, unlike many who fill their minds with negativity. A closed bottle of perfume is better than an open drain, as the perfume can be opened later.

Page 65-66: The Courage to Say "No"

• Dilemma: A disciple struggles to refuse requests, fearing others' disapproval or a bad impression.
• Advice: This inability to say "no" is a weakness. While it's good to consider others' feelings, refusing something against one's conscience, even if it initially causes displeasure, eventually earns respect. One should prioritize their conscience over others' opinions, especially when their conscience says "no."

Page 67-68: Seeking Validation vs. Making an Impact

• Dilemma: A disciple feels frustrated when their presence is not acknowledged and questions their participation.
• Advice: One shouldn't go to events expecting to be noticed. The goal should be to contribute positively, not to seek recognition. The desire for one's presence to be acknowledged is ego-driven. Instead of seeking to be noticed, strive to live a life where one's absence is felt, like sugar in milk – its presence might not be obvious, but its absence is deeply missed.

Page 69-70: The Inevitability of Failure in the Path to Success

• Dilemma: A disciple aims for success without failure and is discouraged by repeated setbacks.
• Advice: Failure is an integral part of the journey to success. Not everyone succeeds in their first attempt, and even successful individuals face failures. The key is to persist and continue the process, as results come from sustained effort, not from giving up. Children learn to walk or ride a bike after falling many times.

Page 71-72: True Happiness is Not Tied to External Success

• Dilemma: Despite reaching the peak of success, a disciple doesn't feel the anticipated happiness.
• Advice: This is like climbing the wrong mountain. True happiness is not linked to material success or fame, which are like the ocean's water – constantly seeking more without satisfaction. Happiness comes from acquiring virtues, spiritual realization, equanimity, and purity. Happiness arises only when the steps are on the right path, not just reaching a destination.

Page 73-74: Aligning Inner Intentions with Actions

• Dilemma: A disciple desires to do good but struggles to translate good thoughts into consistent action and feels unsatisfied.
• Advice: It's difficult to fly with eagles if one continues to associate with crows. The core issue is not having a favorable environment but having a heart predisposed to negativity. Changing one's inner disposition (making the conscience favor the good) is key. While changed actions can influence the conscience, actively shifting inner preference is crucial for sustained goodness.

Page 75-76: Navigating the Competitive World

• Dilemma: A disciple feels stressed by the constant need to compete and keep up in the modern world.
• Advice: Avoid competing with those who are "low" or engage in "low" competition. Lowly individuals are deceitful, cruel, and dishonest. Competing with them will either make you like them or cause you to lose. Also, using unethical means to win leads to a loss of inner peace. Contentment and self-control allow one to thrive even without constant competition.

Page 77-78: The Importance of Expressing Emotions

• Dilemma: A disciple has strong feelings but doesn't express them, leading to misunderstandings. They question the necessity of expressing emotions.
• Advice: Emotions are like a temple bell; if not rung, their existence is unknown. Their purpose is in their resonance. Unexpressed feelings lead to bitterness and damaged relationships. To maintain relationships, one must learn to express their feelings, even if it means saying "no" when necessary, rather than passively accepting what goes against their conscience.

Page 79-80: The Power of a Calm Mind

• Dilemma: A disciple desires a strong mind to overcome obstacles but fears negative thoughts.
• Advice: The teacher distinguishes between a "strong" mind (like Hitler's, which caused destruction) and a "calm" mind. A calm mind is peaceful and leads to happiness. The world suffers due to the prevalence of "strong" minds. The true aspiration should be for a calm mind, not merely a strong one.

Page 81-82: True Strength is in Development, Not Endurance

• Dilemma: A disciple wonders if thorns, which persist through seasons, are stronger than flowers, which fade.
• Advice: True strength lies in development and positive impact, not just endurance. While thorns endure, they don't spread fragrance like flowers do. Flowers, though seasonal, bring beauty and joy. Similarly, character development and positive contributions are more significant than mere persistence in a negative state. What is beneficial and pleasant, even if short-lived, is superior to what is unpleasant or harmful, even if long-lasting.

Page 83-84: The Need for Forgiveness in Love

• Dilemma: A disciple forms deep connections but struggles to maintain them, as minor issues lead to separation.
• Advice: Love requires the willingness to "let go" (jatu karvani). Expectations in love often lead to disappointment. Just as we accept changing environments, we must accept the changing nature of loved ones. Without the practice of letting go, love cannot endure.

Page 85-86: The Illusion of Others' Happiness

• Dilemma: A disciple feels unhappy by constantly comparing their own situation to others, believing everyone else is happier.
• Advice: This perception is a common misconception. Everyone likely views others as happier than themselves. If this belief is true, there's no escape from unhappiness. If it's a belief, then it shouldn't be given undue weight. Focus on your own plate rather than envying others'.

Page 87-88: The True Meaning of Prayer

• Dilemma: A disciple visits temples, offers prayers, but doesn't know what to ask for.
• Advice: The true prayer is to ask for the strength to become what one appears to be to others. If you project a virtuous image, ask for the inner strength to embody it. The mind often desires to appear good without wanting to be good, as being good requires effort and change. The prayer should be for authenticity: to be the same internally as externally.

Page 89-90: The Danger of Praising Compliments

• Dilemma: A disciple is addicted to praise, leading to a lack of self-correction as others hesitate to point out faults.
• Advice: A wise person's criticism is more beneficial than a fool's flattery. The disciple's addiction to praise makes them unreceptive to feedback, creating an ego that prevents growth. Like an alcoholic doesn't respond to advice about milk or medicine, someone craving praise will reject criticism or advice. The disciple must genuinely desire correction and accept their faults.

Page 91-92: The Peril of Deception Over Fickleness

• Dilemma: A disciple's mind is fickle, hindering progress in both worldly and spiritual matters.
• Advice: While fickleness is a problem, "deception" (chalbazi) is a far greater flaw. Fickleness leads to indecisiveness, but deception corrupts innocence. Deception hinders trust, purity, virtue, and peace of mind. A calm mind, though perhaps initially appearing less impressive, is more beneficial than a deceptively manipulative one. Embracing simplicity leads to stability.

Page 93-94: The Master vs. Servant Mind

• Dilemma: A disciple finds their mind leading them astray, especially in matters of what is right versus what is pleasant.
• Advice: The saying "He who obeys his mind is destroyed, and he who controls his mind is victorious" holds true. The mind as a master is dangerous, but as a servant, it is helpful. Aligning thoughts with feelings, intellect with heart, and the mind with the conscience leads to inner peace and clarity, transforming a limiting "west-facing window" (mind as master) into an enabling "east-facing window" (mind as servant).

Page 95-96: Understanding Faith

• Dilemma: A disciple struggles to define faith.
• Advice: Faith is the strength to forgo the visible for the unseen, to pursue the unknown or immeasurable. Instead of defining faith, focus on its results: the willingness to renounce the world, perform acts of devotion, feel compassion for others, and uphold vows even at the cost of one's life. Strive to be a virtuous person whose actions are guided by a pure heart and a clear intellect, and you will naturally embody faith.

Page 97-98: Healing Wounds of Betrayal and Neglect

• Dilemma: A disciple carries deep emotional wounds from neglect and betrayal by loved ones and seeks relief.
• Advice: Understanding and time are the healers. Understanding the context of others' actions (karma, societal influences) can help maintain a balanced perspective. If understanding isn't enough, time will gradually heal the wounds. However, if one fails to heal through understanding or time, their future and present happiness will be compromised.

Page 99-100: Remaining Sensitive in a Mechanical World

• Dilemma: A disciple encounters people who seem like machines, lacking sensitivity and compassion, and feels frustrated.
• Advice: Some individuals are like deserts – incapable of producing compassion. To retain one's own sensitivity, avoid excessive interaction with machines and technology, which are disconnecting humans from genuine human contact. Just as TV isolates children from parents, and mobile phones isolate people from each other, machines are diminishing human connection. Sensitivity thrives on genuine relationships.

Page 101-102: The Essence of the Book

• Concluding Remark: The book is described as a guide that clearly explains the detrimental effects of conflict, discord, and broken relationships (poison) and encourages the adoption of connection, dialogue, and sensitivity (nectar). The author hopes the book helps to remove misunderstandings and shed light on the path to knowledge. The author also seeks forgiveness for any unintentional deviations from Jain principles.