Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 32

18
Putradārā kutumbesu
Saktāh sidanti janatavah Sarah pankārnave magnah
Jirnāh danagajā iva, "Just as a wild elephant experiences anguish when it is caught in the slime at the bottom of a lake (unable to pull itself out), the man who is attached to his children, wife and the other members of his family experiences anguish and agony."
If we think of it deeply, we realize that things are more valuable than money because we use money only to buy them. The body is more valuable than the things we buy for its satisfaction and the soul is more important than the body. I shall illustrate this point with an example:
A certain gentleman went from Nipani to Bombay to earn money. There, he amassed a lot of wealth by his intelligence, industry and good fortune. He built a bungalow; he bought a car; and he lived in luxury and happiness but once he fell ill. The doctors said, "You have a brain-tumor. It can be operated upon only in London. Please go there as soon as possible and get it treated; otherwise there is the danger of your dying of it."
The gentleman became deeply worried. He found that if he had to go to London, he had to spend all his bank balance; he had to borrow money and he had to mortgage his bungalow. He decided to do so and thought that if he could save his body, that is, save himself from death, again, as before, he could earn money by means of his intelligence and industry.
Accordingly, he went to London, obtained treatment, recovered his health and returned home. Some years later, the inevitable end came. His life left his body. The members of his family removed all his ornaments and burnt his body. His wealth did not accompany his soul. Only his good and evil karmas (actions) accompanied his soul. From this story it is evident that the body is more