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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kabatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
Encouraged by the wealthy Brahmin, Gautama went at once to confront Mahavira, taking with him his disciples. When he arrived at the Samavasarana pavilion he was amazed to see its splendor. At first he was envious of its opulence, but some doubts entered his mind: Perhaps he truly was in the presence of a greater personality than himself. Next he found that the atmosphere of the pavilion and all within it was one of peace and good will. He was greeted with kind words and shown to where Mahavira was seated.
Indrabhuti Gautama, I welcome you. I trust you are in good health and spirits?" said Mahavira with a sweet and loving voice.
Gautama was surprised that Mahavira knew his name, and supposed that he must have heard of his fame. He was a proud man, who was well-known all over India. But just as a lamp gives illumination, yet has a shadow beneath it, so despite Gautama's fame and knowledge, his outward certainty hid inner doubts about his own teachings. Mahavira could understand this, for he could see into Gautama's mind.
Search for the truth. Gautama." said Mahavira. "It is within you. Practice pure meditation."
Then he taught Gautama about the existence of the eternal soul, showing him how to experience his own spiritual nature through observation, experience and introspection, and by listening to his own inner voice
Gautama was proud, but nevertheless he was a genuine seeker of truth. When he heard Mahavira's words, spoken with compassion, his doubts vanished. He joined his hands in humility and bowed before him.
"You have cleared doubts that have troubled me for years. Truly you must know all there is to know. Please let me become your disciple, along with my five hundred pupils."
"Come and join me," answered Mahavira happily. "Together we will teach the truth and eradicate violence and hatred, bringing friendship and harmony among all people and all different groups. By showing universal compassion, and by practicing self-control and restraint, we can benefit ourselves and everyone else." Gautama, with great happiness, remained by Mahavira's side.
Meanwhile in Apapa, the wealthy Brahmin and the other philosophers waited for news. Among them was Gautama's younger brother, Agnibhuti. When he heard that his brother had surrendered to be a disciple of Mahavira, he followed him with his five hundred disciples. His intention was to redeem their honor by defeating Mahavira in debate. But instead, after hearing his enlightened teachings he also surrendered to Mahavira. Finally the third brother, named Vayubhuti, took his five hundred disciples and also entered debate with Mahavira, and he too was won over and surrendered. After this, the rest of the eleven philosophers, with all their disciples, took shelter of Mahavira. This left him, on the day following his enlightenment, with 4,411 disciples, all as a result of his first day's preaching. With these followers to assist him he embarked on a ceaseless mission to teach what he had realized and to all who would hear.
On one occasion Mahavira taught his disciple Gautama how all present misfortunes should be understood as the result of past actions. They were traveling together when one day they encountered a farmer beating his bullocks. Mahavira asked his disciple to intervene.
"Tell him that by hurting his aninials he is hurting himself. Explain to him the difference between good and bad acts."
Gautama went to instruct the farmer. Seeing a mionk approaching him, the man was surprised. The monk spoke with conviction and purity, so the farmer ceased his work to sit down and listen carefully to what he had to say. When he heard the effect his actions would have, and the path to peace explained
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