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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
kala”. Even in a minimum period of “Antarmuhurta” the soul can be emancipated breaking off worldly bondages and the maximum time is "Apardha Pudgalaparavartana kala”. Company of the saintly persons and their preachings play an important part in achieving right belief. You will be convinced on this point, when you learn how king Shrenika acquired right-belief.
KING SHRENIKA ACQUIRES RIGHT-BELIEF
There was a beautiful garden named Manditakukshi outside the borders of the city Rajgruhi. Various kinds of trees grew there and many kinds of birds like peacocks, Chakoras, Parrots, Crows etc. haunted therein. In the garden, variety of flowers blossomed and charming bowers were found with swans, ducks and cranes sporting in the ponds. Many monks and ascetics halted there and richpersons fond of pleasure trips visited this place. People assembled in a fair as if, on festival days. Shrenika, the king of Magadha loved this garden very much and so he very often visited this place to entertain himself. One day on some occasion, having kept his attendants at a distance, he was strolling in the garden, observing the flowers and roots, when he happened to spy a monk sitting under a tree.
He was clad in only one garment. He sat steadily in a comfortable posture. His eyelids were closed and mind was fully eengrossed in meditation. He had fair complexion and the face was bright reflecting nobility of nature. The king was deeply impressed by his personality. He had come across many Brahmins and monks till that day. He came in contact with many Sanyasis but none of them impressed him so much. Quite naturally his head was lowered in the feet of the monk. He performed three circumambulations to offer his respects and stood before the monk with two hands folded at a little distance. Just then after meditation the monk opened the eyes, charming like the lotus-petals. The monk saw the king and gave him benediction uttering DharmaLabha”. (May you gain religious merits)!
The king expressed his sense of gratitude by bowing down with his head. He said politely, "Oh, Great sage, may I ask you something if your meditation is not disturbed ?”
