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Bhagawan Mahavir ]
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by coming into contact with the Lord. He, therefore, came to the Lord and begged him pardon for his faults. The merciful Lord again took pity on him and pardoned all his faults. Goshala now felt that nobody could ever be truly happy so long as he lived in this world. If true happiness could be gained while living in this world, the very world would appear in a different form. The real source of all true happiness and contentment is the company of the saints as well as a continuous absorption in spiritual meditation. But it is very difficult to get the latter without the help of the former. When the soul gets them, it forgets all its sorrows and is. released from the Karmic bondage for ever. Lord Mahavira had warned Goshala several times before this, but he had not taken his advice. Today he felt that the only way to improve the man was to endure the suffering. He admitted that it was in the midst of sufferings alone, that the life of man could fully bloom.
By this time, the Rainy season had drawn nearer, and Lord Mahavira stayed for his sixth Chaturmasa in the same city. During his stay at Bhadrika-puri, Lord Mahavira observed various kinds of penances and, when the rainy season was over, he started for Magadha.
HIS SEVENTH CHATURMASA AT ALAMBHIKA.
Lord Mahavira roamed in the country of Magadha for about eight months, without meeting with any Upa-sarga. By that time he reached the city of Alambhika the rainy season had approached, and he had to stay for his seventh Chaturmasa in the same city. Although fast and meditation were always inseparable from him, Lord Mahavira decided
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