Essential Philosophy of Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Z_Selected_Speeches_of_V_R_Gandhi_002018.pdf

Page 11

water, and whatever you do not understand of yourself, come and tell me." They looked in the water pan. Then Prajāpati said, "What do you see?” They said, “We both see the Self thus altogether, a picture even to the very hairs and nails." Prajapati then said, "After you have adorned yourselves, have put on your best clothes and cleansed yourselves, look again into the water pan." They did so and looked into the water pan. Prajāpati says, “What do you see?" They said, "Just as we are, welladorned, with our best clothes and clean, thus we are both there, Sir, well-adorned with our best clothes and clean." Prajāpati said, "That is the Self, that is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman," They both went away satisfied in their hearts.
Prajāpati thought, "They both go away without having perceived and without having known the Self and whoever of these two whether gods or demons will follow this doctrine will perish.” Now Virocana satisfied in his heart went to the demons and preached that doctrine to them, that the Self alone is to be worshipped, that the Self alone is to be served and that he who worships the Self and serves the Self gains both worlds, this and the next.
Therefore they call even now a man who does not give alms here, who has no faith and offers no sacrifices, an Asura, a demon; for this is the doctrine of demons. They deck out the body of the dead with perfumes, flowers and fine raiment by way of ornament and think they will thus conquer the world. But Indra before he had returned to the gods saw this difficulty. As this Self (the shadow in the