Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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important than money and that the soul is more valuable than the body. Why is it not possible to discard our attachment for wealth for the sake of the soul, when we do so for sake of the body?
The following event took place during my vihar (religious wandering). At that time, I happened to be in a village called Manor. One night, it was raining heavily. Nearby, there was the cottage of an Adivasi. It was completely drenched in the water. In the morning, the old woman who lived in the cottage put firewood into the oven and tried to make a fire. On account of continuously blowing air, the old woman's face became red but the firewood was wet; so the sticks could not catch fire. Her children were hungry. She had to cook food urgently to satisfy their hunger. At last, she brought some dry sticks from a neighbour. Those sticks burnt well and the food was cooked.
Our work is also similar. Why do sadhus deliver discourses? They deliver discourses because they want to cook the food of dharma or righteousness through vessel your minds. But your minds are drenched by the water of attachments. On account of it, the endeavours of sadhus, become wasted. If the mind is dried by the heat of detachment, discourses can kindle fire in it and can easily cook the food of dharma or righteousness. Attachment to family brings about sorrow and grief and lamentation, but detachment wipes our tears.
When the great world conqueror, Alexander died, his body was buried in a grave. His mother came there lamenting. She began weeping pitiably at the grave of her son, saying, "Where is my son? Who has hidden him? Return my son to me! Take my life! How can I live without my son!"
A Fakir (a hermit) consoled her and informed her, "Oh mad woman! whom are you calling? If Alexander were your son, would he go away leaving you in this grief? In life, no one is really related to any other."