Journey to Enlightenment Part 02

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Nirmala Hanke
Publisher: Create Space

Page 18

The Story of Nandeshen
Fall 2013
Transcribed by Nirmala Hanke
Every evening during Paryushana, the Forgiveness Festival, many of us went to the Jain Temple in Farmington Hills, to hear Gurudev Chitrabhanuji speak. As always, he told many stories from his own life and from the Jaina tradition. One story in particular, the Story of Nandeshen (Nan-dee-shun) seemed to speak especially to us at the Lighthouse Center, and Gurudevji thought it would be good to share it with everyone. This is the story he told:
Nandeshen was very ugly; his eyes were small, his lips big and his body awkward. His parents did not like him, so he was living with some distant relatives. We have a saying “as ugly as Nandeshen”. All the people were ignoring him and he felt that if he had a chance, he would bum everyone because people were making fun of him, kids were putting their dogs on him. He wanted revenge. He was not able to think of anything else.
When you think badly about others, you will not be able to do any good. When you drink poison, you are the one who suffers, no one else suffers. But Nandeshen became so angry that one day he decided that there was no meaning to life. People who are angry do not enjoy life because the furnace is burning continuously. So he decided to commit suicide. He went to the well and wanted to jump in. He wanted to die but did not have the courage to die. He thought what to do. He was hesitant, to die or not to die.
And at that time a saint came and saw that he might commit suicide. So the saint came to him and asked, “Young man what are you doing?” This was the first time in his life that anyone had said any kind words to him. Everyone was treating him like an animal. For the first time he felt the friendship in the saint's words. Friendship is full of miracles. The saint said, “Son, what are you doing, dropping a beautiful life into water?” These words touched him: this was the first time someone was communicating with him with compassion and good feelings. Then he said, “What can I do, I am ugly Nandeshen. Everybody calls me ugly.” The saint said, “You are beautiful. Come with me, I will show you how to become more beautiful”.
On the Wings of Light and Love - Volume Two - 17