Remembering Guruji

In Sanskrit, Gu means darkness, ru means light. One who converts darkness into light is Guru. Ji is an honorific suffix.

Guruji redefined Jain monkhood. Perhaps, he returned it to those glorious days when the message of the Jina had not splintered into various traditions and Jain monks were also exalted mystics who easily traversed space, time and lives. He was certainly the first modern monk for our times.

He taught to all the gospel of ahimsa – freedom from violence of thought, speech or actions, of anekantavada – freedom from the belief that truth as perceived by oneself was the whole truth, and of mantra and meditation – “watch and awaken yourself,” he said.

This little booklet begins with Namokar Mantra and its meaning as understood by the editor.

It thereafter collects some of Guruji’s observations and random talks previously published in various Siddhachalam materials. These are bookended, first by the personal recollections of a follower who Guruji tasked to make final edits to his timeless book, The Song of the Soul, then by an essay on Guruji’s life story, and at the end, by an essay on Siddhachalam.

In making this booklet, we are deeply mindful of the task before us – of putting together his works and memories – and of how slight is this baby step. May he guide us.

Jaipat Singh Jain
August 10, 2019

Remembering Guruji is available to view online to registered visitors. A PDF document is also available for purchase at a price of $11.