$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 31

GURU GAUTAM-SWÄMI Many Sädhus, including those hermits, attained Kevaljnän, the ultimate knowledge but Gautamswami was still unable to attain it. He was worried that he would never attain kevaljnän. One day Gautam-swami asked Lord Mahavir, "There were eleven of us (main disciples - Ganadhars) who accepted Dikshä and most of them have attained kevaljnän. Why am I so unlucky that I am not able to attain kevaljnän?" Lord Mahävir replied, "Gautam, you have too much affection for me. In order to attain kevaljnän you must overcome the attachment. So, until you give up your attachment towards me, it will not be possible for you to attain Kevaljnän."
On the day when Lord Mahävir was to attain Nirvän (liberation), Mahävir sent Gautamswämi out to a nearby village to preach to a man named Devsharma. On his way back, Gautam-swämi learned that Lord Mahävir had attained (died). Gautam-swami went into a state of shock and sorrow, lamenting, "Lord Mahävir knew this was going to happen. Why did he send me away." Gautam-swämi could not stop his tears and started weeping. Within a few minutes he came back to his senses and began thinking, "No one can live forever, no relationship is permanent. Why was so attached to Lord Mahävir?" May be Mahävir sent me away at this time so that I can understand the reality". He contemplated that he was wrong and gave up attachment for Mahävir. During this deep thinking he destroyed his destructive (Ghäti) Karmas and attained the ultimate knowledge, (Kevaljnän) at the age of eighty.
He attained Nirvän, at the age of ninety-two in 515 B.C. Key Message: Gautam Swami was Brahmin by birth and a very well learned Pundit. When he met Lord Mahävir and found that the Lord was far more learned than him, he let go his ego and became His disciple. Thus, his life teaches us that one should always respect those who are spiritually and religiously more advanced than us. Gautam Swami was the first and the main disciple of Lord Mahävir. However, he could not attain omniscience even though many other disciples had attained omniscience. This was due to his deep love for the Lord. Love is a passion. To attain omniscience, one must get rid of all passions. When Gautam Swami, realized this and got rid of all his passions, he attained omniscience.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I