Jain Journal 1979 07

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

Page 27

JAIN JOURNAL
“No”, said the Lord. “He is still meditating. A little ego is obstructing his kevala-knowledge.”
“What ego ?”—they asked again.
“Sense of pride." said the Lord. “As he will have to bow to his younger brothers who have already become monks according to the rules of the Sramanic order, he is not coming to me. When this pride will go, he will acquire kevala-knowledge."
Then Brahmi and Sundari went there where he was meditating and began to sing, 'Brother, kevala-knowledge cannot be acquired by riding on an elephant.'
They sang this in the broad light of the day. They sang this in the starry darkness of the night.
Little by little that song went down through his ears. Little by little it entered into his consciousness. It stirred his mind: 'Is he riding on an elephant ? Where is that elephant ? But nuns never tell a lie.' So he began to think again.
Then the meaning of the song became clear to him. How could he expect kevala-knowledge when he was not able to forsake his ego? But what was the nature of that ego ?
Bahubali searched his own self. With intense introspection, he realised the nature of that ego. 'How meaningless ? he thought,'Such an insignificant pride obstructed his kevala-knowledge so long!'
After casting aside that ego just as he moved to go to Rsabhadeva he obtained the kevala-knowledge.