Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 18

Bhagwan Mahavira left his royal palace and his companions because he felt that the bondage of the body was getting intolerable for him and the entire significance of life lay in breaking this bondage. Only if he obtained his own deliverance from this bondage, would he be able to guide others how to achieve this freedom. With this idea he went into the wilderness where he embarked on the difficult task of breaking the chains of anger and spite, greed and selfishness.
The gentleman I was talking about had never felt this bondage. He went to the lecture. Many had gathered to listen to the wise words of the sage. After the discourse was over and all had departed, the gentleman approached the sage hesitantly and said, "Maharaj, may I ask you a question?” “Of course, you may," answered the reverend man. Thus encouraged, the gentleman asked him, “How does one liberate oneself from bondage:” “Whose question is this?" asked the saint. “It cannot be yours for you do not wish to be liberated. As far as I can see, you 'hug the very chains that bind you—the chains of a luxurious life of self-indulgence.” The gentleman adinitted that it was not what he wanted to know; it was a question which his parrot had requested him to ask the saint. This answer had an unexpected effect on Maharaj. To the great consternation of the gentleman, Maharaj fell into a swoon. He fanned him desperately and begged him to open his eyes. After a while, he noticed that Maharaj was coming round. He was frightened that he would be
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