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PART III STORIES PRECEDING BHAGAWAN MAHÄVIR
"You are blessed. Oh sage, you are the illustration of a real monk. You deserve all the praise given by Indra. I am very pleased with you and will grant you whatever you wish." "Oh heavenly angel, this human life is very precious. Nothing is more valuable than human existence. I am content.
Heavenly beings praising the act of Sage I crave for nothing," said sage Nandisen. The heavenly angel bowed his head at the feet of the sage and returned to his abode, applauding the merits of the sage.
Moral: This story teaches us the importance of tolerance, discipline, and contentment which are all fundamental values of Jainism. First and foremost, sage Nandisen chose to devote his life to serving monks, an admirable goal requiring the utmost level of dedication and discipline. He demonstrated his tolerance and willingness to serve others without knowing that the demigod was testing him. This means that he was truly dedicated to monks and believed in what he was doing. He also indicated his contentment with the human life when asked for a wish. This contentment is symbolic of the principle of non-possessiveness.
15 - Questions: 1. Who was praising sage Nandisen? What did the demigods do? 2. Describe the scene that followed when sage Nandisen was about to break his fast? 3. What happened at the end?
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JAIN STORY BOOK
