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Journey into Jainism
looking at him, waiting to see what the Guru would say to him who had not undergone any penance during his chaaturmaas.
The Guru received him warmly, "Oh, welcome! you have performed the most difficult job." The other monks were astonished to hear these words. The monk who had spent his Chaaturmaas in the cave of a lion thought to himself, “We three monks, who did severe penance at the risk of our lives, were blessed with only the expression 'difficult task'. While he who enjoyed the pleasures of the prostitute's house for four months has been addressed as the doer of the most difficult task. It shows that the Guru is prejudiced. Because Sthuulibhadra is the son of the minister, a special favour is shown towards him. Well, if I too pass the next Chaaturmaas there, will our guru think as highly of me?"
As the time of the next Chaaturmaas came near, and the monks again made their requests, the monk who had passed the former Chaaturmaas in the lion's cave now asked to be allowed to spend the four months at the house of Kosha. The wise Guru immediately comprehended the situation, and politely explained to the monk, “It is an extremely difficult task. Please believe me when I say that you cannot do justice to it. You cannot do any penance with feelings of jealousy. Remember that we are leading lives of sadhaks."
The muni, however, lost his temper and exclaimed, "Nothing is too difficult for me. I have decided to go there and am resolute in my decision.” The guru tried to discourage him further, "It is not suitable for you. If you
