________________
www.kabatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kalassagaun yarmandie
Shri Maha
Jain Aradhana Kendra
As one lamp lights another, Mahavira enlightened his chief disciple.
EPILOGUE: HIS TEACHINGS CONTINUE
MONG THE DISCIPLES OF MAHAVIRA his first and dearest follower was Gautama, who had joined him on the day he gave his first sermon. Gautama achieved great wisdom and renunciation, but his deep personal affection for Mahavira held him back from full enlightenment. Mahavira had known this, and that it would be very hard for Gautama
to let him leave when the time came for his final liberation from matter. So, on the eve of his departure from this world, Mahavira sent Gautama on a preaching mission to a small village where he would have to stay overnight. On this very night, while Gautama was carrying out his assignment, his beloved teacher passed away and his body was cremated.
The following day Gautama returned and was shocked to find his master had left. He began to cry
"Why did you send me away just at this time? Did you think I would get in the way, or that I am not devoted enough? Now I have no one to follow, no one to call "Master,' or to affectionately call me 'Gautama.' What am I to do?" As he spoke like this he uttered the word vitaraga, which means "free from attachment," in describing his master. He stopped at this and wondered
"Mahavira was free from attachment, and he taught me to be free as well. Why am I holding on to my affection for his body, which is making me shed tears? Even though he is a saint, still my attachment to him is contrary to his instructions. He used to say that a person who uses a boat to cross a river should abandon the boat after crossing. So I should not cling to his body, I should follow the path of nonattachment and take responsibility for my own liberation."
This episode taught Gautarna his final lesson on the path toward perfection. He further remembered Mahavira's words
Mahavire's chief disciple, Gantama Swami went on to continue the great teachings of
Mahavira and perpetrate his path
:
XS
For Private And Personal Use Only
