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Ch. 1: The Disciple - Indrabhuti Gautam
"Oh, that's why we have such poor attendance today! Who is this Arhat guru?" I was disturbed, but curious.
"Gurudev, do something! Our yagnya grounds are fast emptying. Everyone is flocking to the samosaran. This new word samosaran is on everybody's lips. Everyone is getting ready to attend the samosaran. Gurudev, we must do something to stop them! Can you help, Gurudev?"
This news gripped me with mixed emotions. My rock-solid resolve started melting away. "Could I stop people from going to the samosaran? Should I stop them? I wasn't sure, but my ego was raging. "Who is this intruder? Who has dared to come here to give a sermon during our grand function?" After a quick meeting with my associates, I decided to go to the samosaran grounds and tell this guru to either join our yagnya ceremony or face me in a religious debate.
My intuition, however, was telling me something different. It was telling me to be polite and not to challenge the intruder. "You are about to meet a great person," it was prompting. I wondered, "Is he the guru I am looking for? Can he give me the courage I need? Could he be the person to whom I can look for guidance? Can he answer the questions that have long distressed me?" I had to see for myself.
Before I realized it, I was in front of the magnificent samosaran gates. Its grandeur made me feel small, and I watched my ego melting away. As I stepped inside the gates, a strange feeling overpowered my total self. Never had I experienced such calmness and serenity. Though no one had noticed me, I was already feeling bliss. Dumbfounded, my eyes were glued to the ground.
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