Jain Digest 2001 01 Vol 17 No 01

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 20

Lessons from Bhagwan Mahavir's Life (cont.)
came to argue and defeat him in discussion. They all became his give us the same message as given by Mahavir. In short the assodisciples. Bhay (fear) Sangna is removed with feelings of love. ciated stories also tell us: Mahavir showed love towards all living beings. Mahavir's behav- Sati Chandanbala-Bear the sufferings to get rid of karmas. ior was shown in his speech or talk. Showing love and compassion Chandkoshia Snake Control anger. Show love to all. to all living beings and discarding hatred were visible throughout Puniva Srawak-Be content, Do not accumulate more than necessary. Mahavir's life. He gave equal respect to the King Shrenik and to
King Samprati = Control feelings and thoughts all the time. common man. Mahavir was kind to Goshala and taught him Tejoleshya even knowing it will be misused. Mahavir was fearless
Gautam Swami - Be humble, stay away from raag, be detached. as it happened in the following examples:
Maha Sati Sulsa = Have a faith in Teerthankars, inner soul. •While playing with children near a tree, when a snake appeared, Queen Mrugawati = Show respect to your Guru (teacher) •Despite the warning from the villagers, he walked to a jungle King Shrenik =Bear the result of violence(killing) in next life. where a poisnous snake named Chandkoshiya was living. He The aroma of a flower is hidden inside a flower and cannot be showed love to the snake when his toe was bitten.
seen but can only be experienced. Similarly, living a worthy life • He went to areas where civilized people were not living
message is hidden in Mahavir's life events. Today, we are not folWhen Mahavir's son-in-law, Jamali, and daughter, Preeyadarshana,
lowing Mahavir's message or applying it in our lives. Like the went separated from Mahavir's Sangh, Mahavir did not oppose it,
Rohiney thief we are running away from Mahavir's message. The but permitted them with love to follow their own chosen path.
Rohiney thief did not want to listen to Mahavir's message. Rohiney Mahavir understood that everyone has a right to do their own
accidentally heard some words when Mahavir was preaching and thing and follow their own chosen path. Mahavir's heart was soft
those words saved his life when Abhaykumar caught him for punas a flower and hard as an iron. He knew that he had to use up all
ishment. Upon his release he became a disciple of Mahavir. his accumulated karmas in order to get liberated. He showed soft
Mahavir said look at human beings from the inside, but look at ness towards Goshala with tears in his eyes and did not scream
animals from outside. That means take good care of animals and when a shepherd put wooden nails in his ears as punishment for
do not let them suffer from anything. Mahavir also said get rid of
all four enemies sitting in our mind and showing in our behaviour. not taking care of his ox. Forgive and forget are the words connected with Michchhami Dukkadam during the Paryushan festi
These are anger (krodh), pride or ego (maan or ahamkar), deluval. But, Mahavir said that one should use these words all the
sion (moha) and greed (lobh). Without anger a person will be time. He liked to wear the ornament of forgiveness all the time.
calm and can follow the nonviolence principle very easily. With
out ego, a person will be a humble person. Ego or pride invites The following lines in Gujarati says: "Samo thay aag to tu thaje
violence. A person will accumulate less and will not be violent to pani, evi chhe Mahavir Prabhuni vani." This means that Mahavir's
achieve unachievable with the absence of delusion. It will be message says that you be like a water in front of fire. It means that
easier to follow non-stealing principle without deceit or cheating. do not get angry or mad, but show coolness and be calm under
All accumulation occurs with greed in mind. In the absence of unfavorable circumstances or conditions. Mahavir kept his cool
greed, there will be less desire and the non-accumulation prinness and stayed calm, when spending a night in the temple and
ciple can be observed. Mahavir gave us a principle of Anekantvad Yaksha started harming Mahavir, and when a Dev (angel) started
or the theory of multiple views. By taking all views into account a storm while he was crossing a river in a boat, and when Goshala
and honoring every idea and thought, we will not make serious threw tejoleshya (burning energy), and when a shepherd nailed
mistakes, errors or enemies. Analyze from all perspectives before his ears for not taking care of ox. When Meghkumar, son of King
taking a decision. Shrenik, came to Mahavir to relieve him from his one day stay as monk, Mahavir started telling him his previous life story to save
SUMMARY: him from going back to the materialistic world. He advised Mahavir's life message is not about miracles or heroism, but about Meghkumar to bear little pain which was nothing compared to practical solutions to our day-to-day problems. The life message Meghkumar's pain in the previous life as an elephant standing on reminds us about our natural duties. Controlling anger, hatred, three feet for three days to save the life of a rabbit. Mahavir never
lust (kaam), greed and emotions will remove our stress and ease forced anyone to leave the home to take Deeksha. People came on tension. Caring for others with love and sharing areimportant their own to get their vows as monk or nun. Stories of aspect of a life. Overcome the tendency of easier to say but diffiChandanbala, King Shrenik, Puniya Shrawak, Queen Mrugawati, cult toput into practice by remembering Mahavir and increasing Maha Sati Sulsa, King Samprati, Chandkoshia snake and Gautam endurance power and patience. Swami are all connected with Mahavir's life and these stories also
18 / JAIN DIGEST SPRING 2001 Jain Education Intemational 2010_02