Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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We can achieve victory over violence by means of non-violence. King Prasenajit was greatly worried by the enormities perpetrated by the dacoit Angulimal. People used to shudder at the very mention of his name. Buddha, the very embodiment of compassion decided to reform the dacoit by means of ahiṁsā.
One day, the Buddha went into the forest where the dacoit lived with his followers. Seeing the Mahatma coming towards him the dacoit took up his sword. But the Mahatma did not have even a läthi in his hand. The dacoit wondered who the man was. He thought that the man could not have heard of his name: otherwise he could not come to him so fearlessly. Angrily the dacoit said to him, “Oh, vagabond! Who are you? Why are you walking into the very jaws of death? Don't you love your fingers? Don't you know that this is the residence of dacoits and that I am Angulimal, the leader of the dacoits ? My practice is to wear a garland of fingers. Whenever a traveller comes this way, I cut his finger: and make a garland of them and wear it around my neck. I always like to wear a new garland. That is why I am called Angulimal. Come here. Today I shall wear a garland of your fingers!”
Mahatma Buddha said, “Dear brother! We have fingers to work with, not to be cut.” The dacoit said, “Oh, you are preaching me! Wait. I will make you taste the pleasure of it.”
The Buddha said, "I love all living beings and I always enjoy the delight of spiritual satisfaction. I wish that you too should live like me and not try to make people suffer and cry. Try to wipe the tears of people who are in distress. If you do so your life will be tearless and happy. Just as you love your fingers all people love their fingers. Just as you experience pain and anguish when your fingers are cut others also experience pain when their fingers are cut. Stop this cruel practice of yours. Strength lies not in causing pain to others but in giving happiness to others, in rendering help and service to others."