Agam 01 Ang 01 Acharang Sutra Aayaro Terapanth

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 44

COMPREHENSION AND RENUNCIATION OF WEAPONS
Now, it a sadhaka (an aspirant exerting himself in asceticism for achieving self-realization) does not possess the extra-sensory power of perception, there are chances that due to lack of direct knowledge of soul or its transmigration, he may lose his faith in sādhanā (the path prescribed for self-realization). In such cases, it is necessary to assist him to remain steadfast by making him directly perceive some transcendental phenomenon.
Bhagavan Mahāvira, it seems, had the technique of helping his disciples remember their past life (or lives). Thus enlightened with the knowledge of eternal existence of soul, the aspirants would exert themselves with unflinching faith and fresh enthusiasm in sådhana,
This is well illustrated by the episode of Meghakumara, the son of king Srenika of Magadha. Meghakumāra was initiated by Bhagavan Mahāvira. On the very first night of his ascetic life, Meghakumāra, disheartened by inconveniences in lodging thought of returning home. On the next morning, he approached the Lord.
The Bhagavān said - Meghakumāra! You are perturbed because you had a disturbed night due to inconveniences, and now you are thinking of going back. Is it not so ?
Meghakumāra - Yes, Lord. It is true.
Lord — Meghakumāra! In your previous life you were an elephant named Meruprabha living in a jungle. Once the jungle caught fire and the wild animals residing in it gathered in an arid zone outside it. The whole area got packed with all sorts of creatures. There was not an inch of space left. At that time you were also standing there. You had an itching sensation and you lifted your foot to scratch your body. Perchance, a hare happened to settle under the lifted foot. After scratching, when you wanted to lower your foot, you saw the hare sitting there. Out of compassion for the hare, you did not lower your foot, but kept it raised for two and a half days, after which the conflagration subsided. The creatures started returning to their own places and the hare too. Seeing the hare left the place, you tried to lower your foot. But it had become stiff and you fell with a bang.
Meghakumara! You forbore such a great hardship in