Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 66

The king was however more fascinated by the young girl than by the performance. He thought that he could easily gain her, if he somehow got rid of the acrobat. He therefore pretended that his mind was too much occupied with the problems of the state and could not give attention to the performance. He therefore requested llächikumar to show his skill again. Accordingly, Ilächikumar got over the rope again and displayed his skill. At the end of that show when he came down, the king feigned to be drowsy and asked him to show the performance once again. Ilächikumar could not believe that. He suspected that there was something wrong somewhere. Since he was however keen to gain his long cherished goal of getting married to the girl, he decided to try once again.
He again started the rope walk which to him was as easy as alking on the plain surface. He triumphantly looked around. From that height he noticed, at a little distance, that a beautiful woman was offering sweet food to a monk. She was in the prime of her youth and was very attractive and highly graceful. Ilächikumar was however surprized to observe that the monk was not even looking at her. He was amazed to see that while he himself was hankering for the acrobat girl, the monk remained totally unaffected in the presence of that lovely woman. He was struck by the detachment of the monk. He compared the girl of his choice with that woman. The acrobat girl was no doubt attractive but the woman there, was far more attractive. What could have been the force that kept the monk aloof in presence of that woman? And while remaining aloof, happiness was evident on his face! This detachment of the monk raised a quick train of thoughts in the mind of llächikumar.
"How come, I do not get detached, even though I have been repeatedly asked by the king to show the performance!" He recalled the excuses of the king for making him to play on the rope again and again. He could suspect that the king was in all probability attracted by the girl and was waiting for his fall from the rope. "In that case I would never secure the girl for whom I have abandoned my home and the parents." The happiness that he was looking for, was thus illusory. At home, he had been a little exposed to the religious aspects. He had learnt about the soul within the body and its immense capabilities. He realized that his achievements as an acrobat must have been due to that inner capability. That monk could remain unaffected, because he remained tuned to his soul and stayed vigilant about the pitfalls. "As an acrobat, I also have to remain constantly vigilant, because the slightest unawareness on my part can result in fall from the height and consequent death. Why then, should I not use the same vigilance for the sake of the spiritual uplift?"
He had treaded a long path of spiritual pursuit in earlier life. The impact of that achievement was lying subdued within, waiting for an opportunity to get manifest. The sight of the monk provided the needed opportunity. He got fully awakened realizing that he was the soul and all the other situations were simply illusory. While being on the rope, he dwelt deep into his Self and attained omniscience. Then he quietly got down and bidding farewell to every one, he left the place.
(31)
PUSHPACHOOL alias VANKCHOOL
In ancient times there was a king named Vimalyash ruling in Virat city. He had a son named Pushpachool and a daughter named Pushpachoolä. Those brother and sister were highly affectionate to each other. As Pushpachool grew, he got the company of bad fellows and got involved in gambling and such other vices. As he could not get the money needed for the purpose of his vices, he started indulging in burglary. Being the only prince, people connived at his vices for some time, but his viciousness continued to increase with his age. The people had therefore to complain to the king about that. The king tried to bring him to senses, but Pushpachool did not