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[ A talk hetween house holder Manduka and hermita
collide against another and produces lightening and thunder. Thus hundred of its effects can be mentioned which prove the existence of air without doubt.
Manduka--"That is all. I wanted nothing more. I was also saying the same thing. I told you that there are many things in this world which cannot be seen, but whose existence we can infer from their effects or from our experience. But your dull intellect could not comprehend that truth.”
These words of Manduka opened the eyes of the hermits. They had to apply the same principle to Dharmastikaya.
Manduka then came to the Lord and bowed to him very respectfully. Although Manduka did not utter anything at this time, the omniscient Lord knew all, and as Manduka sat before him, he begar, "You gave a very good answer to the question of the hermits. You placed such a good example before them that they were answered without any explanation on your part.” Manduka said that it was all due to his mercy and after bowing to him, he went home.
The writer has put these examples before the readers only to show that at the time of Lord Mahavira even the ordinary Shravakas were well-versed in the philosophy of soul and they taught that philosophy to the younger genera. tion as well. It was due to this very fact that they could remove the doubts of those who questioned them and humblé down their pride very easily. If we too, want to gain that knowledge, we must study the scriptures and ponder over them. At times we must also be ready to bear rebukes of those who are superior to us in knowledge, experience and aģe. If we are prepared to face all these difficulties, we can
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