Chitrabhanu Man with Vision

SR No.: 001808
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre New York
Total Pages: 326
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Biography
File Size: 24 MB

Page 124

had often quoted, "Kshamā Virasya Bhushanam --- Forgiveness is the ornament of the brave.”
What does that mean? That bravest is he who Jcnoius how to drop violence from his consciousness and forgive even his enemies.
Munishree made up his mind to take that step. He sought out the monk with whom he had fought, took his hand, and in silence, looked into his eyes. He gave him complete forgiveness and asked him to forgive him. It was an act of courage, a moment of trampling on the ego and opening himself to the flowing stream of maitrl, amity and friendship.
In this way, he brought the incident to a close and removed the taste of animosity and bitterness which had taken hold of his consciousness. He made up his mind to start giving space to all.
If others want to push or grab, let them. I will not stand in their space. Let me be with myself. That is why I am here, to give space to everyone, including myself. Without space, how can anyone grow?
He went to his Master for guidance. “Guruji, I want to be rid of anger once and for all. It is a thorn in my consciousness.
"Sometimes it takes another thorn to remove the first thorn,” the Master answered. “Your fellow muni has helped you remove the thorn. He has become your guru in this case."
Munishree nodded.
His guru continued, “Moreover, you had a karmic debt with him. Now it is over."
Together they recalled one episode from the life of Mahāvir. One day a cowherd had asked Mahāvir to watch over his cows while he went into the village. Since Mahāvir was keeping silence, he neither accepted nor refused, so the man assumed that he had accepted to guard his cows from thieves. When the man returned in a few hours, one cow was missing.
"You thief!" he accused Mahāvir and started striking him with a stick.
Mahāvir remained in ahimsā, in silence. A few minutes later, the cow wandered back from where it had been, and the
107