Mahavir Foundation 1997 11 London 10th Anniversary

Author(s): Mahavir Foundation
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation

Page 17

MAHAVIR FOUNDATION
NAYSAR
Dr Ajit Shah
This story is about a man called Naysar, who was destined to become Lord Mahavir after several lives.
10th Anniversary Issue
One day Naysar went to the forest to cut some firewood. He worked all morning, and was ready to sit down and eat his lunch. Naysar was a generous man and he thought, that it would be very nice if he could share his lunch with somebody.
As if in answer to his wish, a few Jain Munis, came into view. They had lost their way in the forest, and got separated from their group.
Naysar greeted them kindly, and offered them food, promising to show them the way out of the forest once they had eaten.
Once the Jain Munis had eaten Naysar happily showed them the way out of the forest, walking with them. On the way, the Munis talked to him about the Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Naysar took it all in. His life changed. He began to live a much more. peaceful, and non-violent life.
He sowed the seeds of his future greatness, during this brief encounter with the Jain Munis, and after several lives, he was born as Prince Vardhman, who was later known as Lord Mahavir - the 24th Tirthankar.
November 1997
Quotations from Scriptures
He who is disinclined from killing the smallest living beings knows what suffering is, because he who knows his own happiness and pains, knows others' happiness and pains, and he who knows others feelings knows his own feelings. This is the way he must compare himself with others. He who has obtained this knowledge would not wish to live after killing other living beings. (1/6/55)
Life after life (birth and re-birth) is due to love of materialistic pleasure and hence love of materialistic pleasure is due to birth and rebirth, that is why one who seeks materialistic pleasures becomes. ignorant and suffers from physical and mental pains. Ideas like MY mother, my father, my brother, my sister, my connections, my property, my wealth, my food, my clothing etc. lead to life-long apathy. (2/1/65)
(So) intelligent man should not waste a minute because beauty and age decreasing. (2/1/69)
While the perceptions of his ear and eyes are not weakened and while his senses of smell, taste and touch are not decreased it is advisable that man should pursue all the necessary deeds to make his life and soul sublime. I say this. (2/1/75) One has been born many times in a upper class family or many times in a lower class family. One should not be unduly proud of or ashamed of these things. Understanding this diversity, one should not boast about or long for such material things. (2/3/84)
15