________________
53
THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD OF MEDITATION
awareness or profound awareness of the self No sooner had he been initiated than he transcended the waking slumber and sleep
Prabuddha asked, 'It is believed that Mahavira slept in all for forty-eight minutes during twelve and a half year Is it true?'
'I was not a witness to it How can I endorse it? But since I did not witness him how would I controvert it?'
'Is perception the only source of knowledge ? 'It is not so'
'Then why side-track my question with this argument? Is there no means to know the truth?'
'There is 'Acharanga Sutra' is an authentic scripture on the issue'
'Does it record that the Lord slept in all for forty-eight minutes ?'
'No, it does not do so' 'What is recorded therein, then ?'
'Therein it is recorded that the Lord would not sleep frequently Nor would he sleep for long. He would keep the soul waking most of the time 'l
"Is sleep not indispensable to life?'
'It is Thats why the Lord would sleep a wink after prolonged waking
'Would not the sleep pester him?'
'Once a while during summer and pre-spring seasons Once the sleep bothered him seriously at night He then slept for an instant He resumed his meditation thereafter '3
'Sleep is needed for four reasons-exhaustion, concentration, emptiness and utter relaxation When the Lord practised concentration and relaxations how could he have immunised himself from sleep?'
1 'Ayaro' 9/2/5 2 lbid 3 'Acharangachurni' pp 313
