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souls, adoption of mind and speech particles and souls adopting different modes due to karmas. He spent rainy season haltat R jag ha.
The 11th Year as Keval
Leaving R jag ha, the Lord reached K tamgal -Kayamgal where the samava ara a was held at the 'Chatrapal a' garden. At that time, a renouncer named Skamdaka used to live in r vast city near K tamgal. He was the disciple of 'Gardabh la' and well-versed in Vedas and Ved mgas. Once he met a nirgrantha named Pimgala. Pimgala asked Skamdaka —“O Magadha! Can you tell me if the world, soul, Siddhi and Siddhas are with an end or without an end? What kind of death enhances or reduces a soul?” Skamdaka thought a lot but could not get the answer. He learnt that the Lord had arrived at 'Chatrapal a', so he thought, why not get the solution to this from him, and he went to Kaytamgal.
There the Lord told Gautama, “Your past acquaintance, a mendicant Skamdaka will come here in a while.” Gautama was curious and asked - "Lord, will Skamdaka become your disciple?” The Lord said “Yes, today Skamdaka will become my disciple." Skamdaka came there. Gautama welcomed him and asked -"Skamdaka, did you come here because the nirgrantha Pimgala asked you something you could not find an answer for?" Surprised, Skamdaka said “Gautama, May I ask you as to who told you my secret thought?” When Gautama introduced him to the Lord's omniscience, Skamdaka devotedly saluted the Lord. He then placed his problem in front of the Lord. The Lord said –“Skamdaka, the world is of four kinds – substance (dravya), place (k etra), time (k la) and modes or thoughts (bh va). In some way the world is with an end and in another, endless, without an end. It is the same for soul, Siddhi and Siddha. As far as dying is concerned, there are two kinds of deaths; death as a child/fool (b la) and death of a knowledgeable one (pa dita). Death as a child enhances the transmigration cycle (sams r ) while the death of a knowledgeable one or death in sam dhi (meditation) reduces transmigratory cycle. Dying in ignorance, unmeditative, on account of anger, greed, lust, etc is a childhood death."
Skamdaka was very happy with the knowledgeable solutions given by the Lord. He expressed desire to be a mendicant. Knowing him to be a suitable person the Lord gave him initiation. Skamdaka became a monk.
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