________________
GURU GAUTAM-SWÄMI
was puzzled. He knew that he was correct but his teacher told him to atone for it. So he politely asked Gautam-swämi, "Does one have to atone for telling the truth?" Gautam-swämi replied, "No," and then left the place thinking, "I will reconfirm this with Lord Mahävir."
Gautam-swämi returned to Lord Mahävir and asked about Anand's special power. Mahävir said, "Gautam, Anand was telling the truth. How could a person like you with so much knowledge make such a mistake? You should atone for your mistake." Mahävir believed in the truth and he would never cover up the mistake of his disciple just to make their group look good. Gautam-swämi put his alms aside and immediately went to Anand's house to ask for forgiveness for his doubt about his special power. Anand was proud of his humble teacher who did not mind admitting his own fault to his followers.
Kheer Offerings to 1500 Hermits
On another occasion, Gautam-swämi went to town for the alms. He was returning with the kheer (a sweet made from rice and milk) in a Pätra (bowl) when he saw fifteen hundred hermits. Gautam-swämi felt that they were hungry and offered them the kheer.
They began to wonder how Gautam-swämi would feed all of them. Gautam-swämi requested all of the hermits to sit down. Since he possessed a special power call Akshinmahanasi Labdhi (non-diminishing power), he then served everyone the kheer from his bowl. While serving the kheer, he kept his thumb in it to invoke the power. To everyone's surprise they were all well served from the small Pätra (bowl). The hermits were all so impressed by Gautamswämi that all fifteen hundred decided to become Jain monk under Lord Mahävir.
30
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
