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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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his preceptor and asked for the mysterious significance of the dream. The preceptor was very learned and was fully conversant with ‘eight forms of..omens' (Ashtangnimitta). He openly declared before all the disciples that one non-enlightened Acharya would arrive there on that day along with five hundred enlightened monks.
The preceptor was very learned and there was no reason to doubt in the validity of his declaration. On the very day Rudracharya accompanied by five hundred disciples arrived in the city
nd the citizens assembled to listen to his sonorous and significant religious preachings. Then the disciples of Shri Vijayasensuri thought how to realise the fact that the newly arrived Acharya was non-enlightened and the disciples were enlightened. They placed their doubt before the preceptor who promised to dispel it. Thereafter he arranged to scatter small burning charcoals on the ground of passing urine meant for Rudracharya and his disciples, and instructed to watch the happening. At midnight disciples of Rudracharya went to pass urine. When the charcoals were pressed under their feet a crumbling noise was produced. They doubted that some living insects were crushed under their feet. They condemned themselves and were ready to perform religious repentance rites. This incident convinced the disciples of Surji that the disciples of Radracharya were enlightened and apprehensive of worldly evils.
After a while Rudracharya awoke to attend the call of nature and the same noise was repeated when the charcoals were pressed under his feet. He also doubted that some living insects were trampled under his feet but rather than repenting for his act he said trampling forcibly, “These are the souls of some emancipated ones crying !" The disciples of Surji openly heard these words and they were convinced that the Soul of Rudracharya was non-enlightened as his conduct would not be so harsh and cruel. Those who carry no conviction in others, fail to convey appeal in their preachings.
In the morning Shri Vijayasensuri spoke to the disciples of Rudracharya, "Oh monks, this your preceptor need not be served by you, as he is a pseudo-preceptor. I have to say so as the preceptor deprived of righteous conduct, preceptor who does not prevent one treading the path of misconduct and preceptor who preaches the path of unrighteousness degrade religion.
