Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 172

rama as. I am left with very short time in my life. I am engaged in selfrealisation. Under these circumstances, what spiritual purpose does it serve to me if I teach these texts?”
As crya Bhadrab hu refuted the command of the congregation, the
rama as got upset and said emotionally, “O eminent c rya! With regrets we are forced to pose the question, what penalty one pays if he disobeys the congregation's command?"
c rya Bhadrab hu solemnly answered, “According to the rules of Jain Order, the one who gives such a reply should be considered as a heretic in the canonical texts and should be ex - communicated from the congregation”.
The leader of the congregation said, “You are the highest leader of the congregation. Despite the awareness of the twelve rules of “Sambhoga Viccheda" (excommunication from the congregation) how are you declining to teach the P rvas?”
c rya Bhadrab hu said in a decisive tone, “I am willing to teach the Prvas on one condition. When I am practicing Mah pr a meditation, for spiritual- exertion, I will not talk with anyone and nobody should talk to me. After the completion of my meditation, every day, I will teach seven recitals of P rvas to the monks: one recital after returning from seeking alms, three recitals in the rest of the day time (k lavel s) and three recitals afterthe evening pratikrama a. Thus there will not be any hindrance even in my meditation and at the same time, the command of the congregation will also be fulfilled".
The leaders of the group of monks accepted the condition of c rya Bhadrab hu. c rya Bhadrab hu, keeping his word, started teaching the Prvas to the 500 brilliant rama as including rya Sth labhadra. Because of the complicated and obscure nature of the subject and because of the slowness in the progress of the recitals, gradually 499 monks feeling tired and frustrated stopped learning & went back to P al putra. But rya Sth labhadra kept at his study of P rvas with courage, concentration and dedication. Thus of the remaining period of the twelve years of his Mah pr a meditation, Bhadrab hu taught the
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