Kshamapana

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 5

8 Kshamapana clear like the skies : cloudless and clean, as if touched with rainbow colours after heavy rains. The rainbow lines of lust, anger, pride and conceit now do not spread their charms to obstruct them. As new waters pour themselves into rivers, mud and mire are washed away. Similarly, as the spirit of non-violence (ahimsa), non-absolutism (anekanta) and non-possession (aparigraha) rises of life at the time of Samvatsari Pratikramana, the waters of forgiveness rise up
Some people stand on the shore. They get only shells and pebbles from the surface. They have no courage or desire to dive into deep waters. The austerities of all those who do not dive into the waters of penitence, of generosity, to be immersed and purified, bear no fruits.
They truly propitiate who forgive and ask forgiveness.
Today every home, every family is ablaze Some minds are angry and some hearts are offended. Jealousies sting here and animosities burn there. Do we wish to keep the fire burning all through life or receive the healing balm of the waters of forgiveness?
The decision is to be taken today. That is the only justification for celebrating the festival. Bhagavan Mahavir has told an ingenious story
Kshamapana 9 of a man who lost nine hundred and ninety-nine rupees for a cowrie : "Once upon a time a man went abroad to earn money. He worked hard and earned a thousand rupees. He set out on his returning journey in good company. He put 999 rupees in a long, narrow purse and tied it round his waist and kept one rupee apart.
He changed the rupee for cowries. He decided to meet all expenses on the way home with these hundred cowries. After a long journey, he was now nearing home and his village was only a short distance away. He then sat down to take his meal. Through negligence he dropped a cowrie there. He resumed his journey. On the way he remembered having lost a cowrie through carelessness. Moreover, he would have to get change for another rupee for want of a cowrie.
But he had a purse of 999 rupees tied round his waist. It was not safe to return alone with the purse. He dug up the soil at a particular spot and buried the rupees there and returned to fetch the cowrie.
He searched for the place where he had halted. He ransacked the place where he had his meal. At the place where he had drunk water, he put his hands into the mud, looking for the cowrie. But nowhere was the cowrie to be found. He ran