Apporva Avasar

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra,
Publisher: USA Jain Study Group NY

Page 18

એકાકી વિચરતો વળી સ્મશાનમાં, વળી પર્વતમાં વાઘ સિંહ સંયોગ જો; અડોલ આસન, ને મનમાં નહીં શોભતા, પરમ મિત્રનો જાણે પામ્યા યોગ જો. અપૂર્વે ૧૧
Let me be like a monk who
Wanders alone on cremation grounds or mountains Where he encounters tigers and lions
Remains unmoved and
Has no apprehension as if
He is amongst best friends.
When...11
Here Shrimad describes the aspirations of a monk. Normally monks remain in groups. However, as the monk progresses, he initiates even more severe penance to further accelerate his progress by wandering alone on cremation grounds and mountains; places where he may encounter ghosts or ferocious animals who may attack and inflict bodily harm. He maintains internal tranquility and remains absorbed in meditation regardless of these external situations so he may give up his total attachment to his body. He reaches such a state that he considers even animals and ghosts as his best friends. He has reached the pinnacle of equanimity with friendship for all living beings.
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