Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 43

YOUTH
FORGIVENESS IS STRENGTH
Jayni Gudka reminds us of the potential of forgiveness in everyday life through a famous story
6309 REME
tada
F
ORGIVING CAN HEAL individuals, marriages, communities and even nations. Each time we witness an act of forgiveness, we marvel at its power to heal, to break an apparently endless cycle of pain. Perhaps this is because forgiveness is something we don't fully understand.
I accuse....
Perhaps we associate forgiveness with weakness. Perhaps we view forgiveness as an action, which most certainly cannot be learned. In fact, the opposite is true: forgiveness is a sign of strength.
There is a well-known Jain story about Anand Shravak, which describes this virtue. In Lord Mahavir's time, there lived a king named Jitshatru in the city of Vanijya. A rich householder named Anand also lived in that city. He was highly respected by the king and townspeople. Once, when Lord Mahavir visited the town of Vanijya, Anand went to listen to one of his sermons. After hearing the sermon, Anand decided to renounce his worldly affairs, and he transferred all his responsibilities to his children. He would spend the remainder of his life meditating.
After a time of strict penance, his
PHOTOS: JAMES MATURIN-BAIRD
soul became purer and he attained avdhignan. Avdhignan is limited divine knowledge. At this time, Lord Mahavir was in Vanijya with his disciples. One day when Gautamswami, the principle disciple of Lord Mahavir, went to collect alms, he overheard people talking of Anand's poor health and that he had attained avdhignan. So Gautamswami visited Anand. After Gautamswami had arrived, Anand told Gautamswami about his avdhignan, and that he could see into the twelfth devlok (a realm of the gods). Gautamswami thought that such knowledge was impossible for a householder to attain, and therefore told Anand to ask for forgiveness for lying. Anand was puzzled because he was telling the truth, but he did not want to disobey his leader. He respectfully asked Gautamswami whether anybody had to repent for telling the truth. Gautamswami said no, but he still did not believe Anand.
Gautamswami went back to Lord Mahavir, to obtain an explanation. As Gautamswami finished telling Lord Mahavir about his conversation with Anand, Lord Mahavir said, "Gautam, Anand is right. He has attained such avadhignan that he can see that far. How could a knowledgeable person like you make such a mistake? You are the one who should ask for his forgiveness." Gautamswami immediately realised his mistake and went to Anand to apologise and ask for forgiveness. Anand was happy that even a great monk like Gautamswami came back to ask for forgiveness. Anand fasted to his death and was
Forgiveness Is Strength
reborn as a heavenly angel in a heavenly region. After the heavenly life, he would be reborn as a human in Mahavideh and would attain moksha from there.
This story tells us how people should have faith in truth and correct the mistakes of their teachers humbly.
I ask forgiveness...
It also shows how simple, humble and true a follower of Lord Mahavir Gautamswami was. When Lord Mahavir pointed out his mistake, Gautamswami went to Anand without any argument to ask for forgiveness, despite his high status. It also shows. how fair Lord Mahavir was because, even though his principle disciple had made a mistake, he did not cover it up. Instead, he explained the mistake Gautamswami had made. From this story, we can learn that anybody can make mistakes, but to be a great person, we need to accept that we also can be wrong sometimes, and ask for forgiveness when we have been mistaken.
Jayni Gudka is a high school student in London. She recently spent a week gaining work experience at the Jain Spirit Office.
December 2003 February 2004 Jain Spirit 41 www.jainelibrary.org