Bhavana Bodh

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 47

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BHAVANA BODH
and heat with a bare body; to bear the stings of bugs and mosquitoes, to suffer someone's thundering words, to suffer crudities of the Upashraya or halting places in the ascetic's movements from place to place, to suffer the bites of shrubs and brambles, to suffer the evil effects of dirt collected on the ascetic's body due to non-bathing. O son! Know it for certain that such a life is very difficult to lead. To suffer someone's hurt or killing is very difficult to endure, the troubles from being shackled are difficult to obviate, even to beg for food from anybody, is very difficult and still more difficult is when the ascetic begs for food and does not receive from anybody. Also extraction of hair of the head which is one of the ascetic's discipline is a very painful process and very unbearable and capable of tearing the heart of a cowardly man. You think about as to how difficult it is to observe the vow of celibacy which is like dreadful weapon to destroy bondages. Really, all these vows are very difficult to observe by an impatient soul.
Affectionate son! You are quite fit to enjoy happiness. Your youthful body is worthy of taking pure bath in the most beautiful way. Loving son! Certainly you are not capable of observing an ascetic life in which there is no rest till there is life in you. The great collection of virtues of an ascetic is very heavy like iron. It is very very difficult to bear the burden of restraint. As next to impossible it is, to observe restraint in the youthful life. As it is difficult to swim the ocean by hands alone, so difficult it is to swim the ocean of good qualities in youthful life. As the mouthful of sand is tasteless so an ascetic life is also tasteless. As difficult it is to walk on the edge of sword, so difficult it is to practise penance. As a serpent moves lonely with sole attention so in a life of an ascetic, one has to move with sole attention of soul for preservence of Irya Samiti and it is equally difficult
O affectionate son! As difficult it is to chew iron barley, so difficult it is to observe a life of restraint. As difficult it is to drink the flame of fire, so difficult it is to adopt an ascetic life in the prime of youth. It is difficult for a coward person possessing weak bodily