Samkit Faith Practice Liberation

SR No.: 007764
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amit B Bhansali
Publisher: Amit B Bhansali
Publication Year: 2015
Total Pages: 447
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 7 MB

Page 77

74
A lay scholar used to live opposite the place where the community of ascetics was staying. The lay scholar observed that the old novice was struggling to memorise even one aphorism. (Jain ascetics are expected to memorise hundreds if not thousands of aphorisms composed in Prakrit and Sanskrit). Seeing his plight, the scholar began making fun of him. He caustically commented that, "A battered old parrot cannot be taught new words". [In India, parrots are commonly kept as pets since they easily learn to imitate human language and keep repeating the words spoken around them, often to hilarious effect.] After saying this, he placed a wooden pestle for beating out rice in front of the old man and starting pouring water in it.
Seeing him pouring water inside the wooden pestle, the old novice asked, "What are you doing, o panditji (lay scholar)?" The obnoxious lay scholar replied that he was watering the wooden pestle in order to turn it back into a live tree full of branches, leaves and fruits. When the old novice asked him how could it be possible for an old wooden pestle to be turned back into a live flowering tree? The lay scholar nastily replied that if the old novice thought he could become a scholar in his old age, why couldn't he turn the wooden pestle back into a tree?
Hearing this, the old novice was disheartened and he approached his preceptor, saying that it was a folly for him to seek to study the scriptures in his old age since he was struggling to memorise one aphorisms. [Scriptural study is one of the most important duties of Jain monks and those who are unable to do so are viewed with derision. Not every monk can be a scholar but monks are expected to commit to memory a few hundred aphorisms, which are relevant to their day-to-day activities.] The old novice said that he would no longer attempt to learn the aphorism.
His preceptor tried to explain his aged disciple that the comparison with the wooden pestle was irrelevant, inadequate, irrational and completely incorrect. He explained that the pestle was inanimate and insentient and that the disciple was sentient. The novice had a soul.
He told the novice that, "The soul is neither young nor old. It does not die. It is eternal. The soul is intrinsically endowed with qualities such as eternal knowledge, eternal perception and others. It is an embodiment of knowledge. The pestle needs to bring in external forces in order to mill seeds and pulses. But you have to bring out your inner qualities. You are your own strength. Your soul is always illuminated by the lamp of knowledge and is completely unaffected by bodily age." Hearing this, the old novice was deeply inspired and developed faith in his self. Confidence regained, he applied himself to his studies with renewed gusto. He was now convinced of his soul's true nature. He had realised the boundless capacity of his own soul. His constant study weakened his knowledge-obscuring karmas (Gyaanaavarniiyaa karma), which fell away, and the old novice became a very fine scholar. This transformation occurred when the old novice become convinced of his own soul and its immense capabilities.~ Samyagdharshana; (Page 282, Author: Ashokmuni, Publisher: Diwaakarjyoti Karyaalaya, Byaawar (Rajasthan), year 1981)