________________
ASPIRANT'S GUIDE (Shastra).
He was always busy with his religious works for many hours in a day. His wife used to weave ropes and earned some money for food. They were very poor, yet he and his wife did not accept any charity from any source.
The king of Kashmir learnt of the poor life of this great scholar Kaiyata. He personally came to his cottage and said humbly with folded hands, "Sir, I am ashamed that the learned scholar (pundit) like you, is poor in my kingdom."
Kaiyata immediately folded his mat, took water-pot and told his wife, "Let us not stay here. The king feels ashamed of us !"
The king bowed down at his feet with folded hands, "Kindly pardon my mistake if any. Kindly give me an opportunity to serve you !".
Kaiyata replied, "If you are serious about serving me, please see that you or your officers do not come here. Please do not send gifts, money or food and so on. My only desire is to live in seclusion, study the scriptures, write, and remain engrossed in the self meditation. I desire nothing else."
This is the desirelessness of a true devotee of the goddess of learning (Saraswati). Such contentment is difficult to be found in modern days in scholars or even in saints and monks. (2) Swami Dayananda Saraswati is in the first rank of the great men of the nineteenth century in India. He had established the new Hindu religion sect called Arya-Samaj. He was a great devotee and servant of Indian culture. He was a celibate throughout his life.
in the initial days of his spiritual practice (Sadhana), he followed a strict vow with himself and used to wear only one loin cloth on his body. Once a gentleman came and said, "Swamiji, since you have only one loin cloth, I have brought another."
Swamiji replied, "Well friend, even this one loin cloth is a burden to me. Why do you load me with an extra burden ? 1 thank you for your regard, but I cannot accept another loin cloth. Please take it back."
This was the desirelessness and spirit of contentment of the great monk (yogi).
le.
94
SADHAK-SATHI
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
