I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 23

I AM MAHAVIRA
LEAVING THE HOME
My mind, now, became full of undertaking spiritual practices. I studied all the scriptures, once again. I read 'Mundakopanişaď (Discourses on Mendicancy) and 'Svetāśvataropanișad' again and again (These texts deal with the path of renunciation). I repetitively studied 'Praśnopanişad' (Discourses on Spiritual Questions) and Kathopanișada (Discourses of the Sage Katha). I saw the theme of non-violence (Ahimsā) and yoga of knowledge (Jñānayoga) in them. I also studied the heretic or non-Vedic literature. There also, I found non-violence
postulated.
I felt, "It is only non-violence that can bring love and peace
in the world. It is only non-violence, which can establish equanimous mentality and action. But, how it could be put into
practice?"
I thought to myself, "Let me first practice it on myself, and experience its effect".
"This will require that I should first become a common man in place of a prince. I will have to alleviate the difference between the prince and the common man."