Path of Arhat

SR No.: 001745
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 262
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Spiritual, Religion, & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

Page 62

Mahāvīra : A Non-violent Revolutionary
( 37
however, voluntarily began to move with Mahavira and introduced himself as his pupil to everyone. Mahāvīra did not object to it also. It is said that he was very impetuous, rash and indiscreet, and many a times put himself and Mahāvīra in awkward situations. Once at Nālanda he inquired from Mahavīra what type of alms he would get on that day. Mahavira said he would get some rotten food to eat. He tried his best to get good food by moving from place to place but got what was exactly predicted. At some other time while moving from one place to another he saw some persons in the forest cooking 'Khira’ ( sweet made of milk and rice ) in an earthen pot. On inquiry Maha vīra told him that Khira' would not be available for cating. And it exactly happend like that as the pot in which it was being cooked broke down though many efforts were made to save it. Third incident was when a plant of sesamum was noticed and Gośāla inquired from Mahavira whether that plant would survive the next weather. When Mahavira replied in the affirmative, Gosala uprooted it and threw it away aside. Next weather, on their return journey, Gośāla saw that the uprooted plant had grown at the place where it was thrown away. All these incidents, and especially the last one, confirmed Gośāla's belief in Niyati, i. e., pre-destination These incidents lead him to believe that human efforts are of no avail and we cannot change cur destiny. Mahavira was a firm believer in the theory of Karma. According to him if persuant to the theory of cause and effect one bas to bear the fruits of his karma, one can also have an impact of his present karmas on the fruits of past karmas, the results of which can be mitigated, if not totally obliterated. Moreover, present karmas are in one's own hands and so future which is the fruit of present karmas can surely be moulded by us by proper efforts. Mahavīra was, therefore, opposed :0 Gośāla's ideas of Niyati which took away soul's volition to choose its own path of salvation. After the incident of sesamun plant, Gośala parted the company of Mahavira, established his own school of Niyati, declared bimself a Tirtha