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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
142
among the members of one's family. Soon after his fever was cured, he decided to give up his connections with his family and to seek spiritual solace in solitude. To attain his objective he renounced his family, his palace, his wealth and all his possessions and became a sādhu (an ascetic).
संजमेण तवसा अप्पाणं भावेमाणे विहरइ
Sanjamena tavasā appānam bhāvemāne viharayi.
“He began wandering about endeavouring to purity his soul by means of self-discipline and spiritual austerities.”
The sacrifice made for the sake of the welfare of others makes the benefactor immortal and famous in this world.
Once there was a farmer. In his house there was a large bag filled with wheat; yet he died of starvation. People thought that he was a miser; and that he was a fool to die of starvation, inspite of having a large bag of wheat. But generally what people think will not be true always.
It was discovered that the farmer who had died of starvation inspite of having a bag of wheat was indeed a great benefactor. When this truth was known the king's servants came to take the bag of wheat. Beneath the bag of wheat, they found a letter written in the farmer's hand. He had written in the letter thus: “T a time of adversity for farmers. If I eat the wheat I have, our brother-farmers will have no seeds for bringing up the next crop. I am starving because I want every farmer to get enough seeds for growing the next crop. Being unable to bear with my hunger, I am dying. I want this wheat to be distributed among all the farmers equally according to their necessity. This is my last wish! May all live in happiness!"
On hearing the contents of the letter all began to praise the farmer's generosity heartily. This is what an English Philosopher says, “To hold the hands in prayer is good. But to open them in charity is better."
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