Jain Journal 1973 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 11

JAIN JOURNAL
In his travels, he came in contact with Gosala (of whom we shall write more hereafter) who charmed with the sanctity of his life became his disciple. He lived with the future Arhat for six years. Unable to bear austerities he then left him.
In the thirteenth year of his Renunciation, full knowledge flashed forth in Mahavira's mind, as he was sitting in meditation under a Sala tree on the bank of the Rijuvaluka. His spiritual nature had now fully developed. He had cast off the bonds of ignorance and had become a Master, as a Theosophist would say.
When the blessed Lord had discovered the Great Truth, out of compassion for the world, he decided to preach it to all persons without any distinction of caste, colour or creed. He delivered his first sermon on the very spot where illumination had come upon him. He, then, went to Apapa where he stayed in a park and began to preach his doctrine. In the city there lived a very rich Brahman who was celebrating a Yajña or a great animal sacrifice. He had invited several of 1 coreligionists on that occasion among whom Indrabhuti Gautama and ten others were most distinguished for their vast learning and great asceticism. When they heard the people admire Mahavira's teachings, they could not bear it, and all started, attended with their disciples, "to expose the jugglery of the new Teacher”. When they came to Mahavira and heard him, their resolution was quite changed. They were satisfied with his teachings and became his disciples. Indrabhuti Gautama and ten others were all ordained as his chief-disciples. Candana, a princess, also entered the order. She became the head of the female section of the order. A few persons who were unable to enter the order took the vow of a śrāvaka or a layman. The Lord gave them all his blessings and spoke a few words of spiritual advice. He said :
“A saint, with right intuition, who cherishes compassion for the world...should preach, spread and praise the faith, knowing the sacred lore. He should proclaim it among those who exert themselves and who do not... Not neglecting tranquility, indifference, patience, liberation, purity, uprightness, gentleness and freedom from worldly cares, one should with due consideration, preach the law of the mendicants to all sorts of creatures... One should do no injury to one's self nor to anybody else... A great sage, neither injuring nor injured, becomes a shelter for all sorts of afflicted creatures even as an island, which is never covered with water". Such was the beginning of Mabavira's Church or the Sangha.