Mahavir Prince Of Peace

Author(s): Ranchor Prime
Publisher: Mandala Publishing

Page 87

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
"I fear no one, not even Death himself, and no one fears me, because I love all creatures."
ANGER OVERCOME by LOVE
AHAVIRA CONTINUED HIS TRAVELS ALONE and reached a community of monks who lived under the guidance of their teacher on a wooded hill beside a river. As soon as he saw Mahavira, the head of the monastery recognized him as the former Prince Vardhamana of Vaishali. So he hurried out to greet him and invited him to stay with
them. Mahavira was reluctant, since he had vowed to shun even the simple comforts that might be available in a monastery. But the teacher spoke persuasively.
"Now is the beginning of the rainy season, when it is customary for travelers to stay in one place until the end of the rains. Stay with us until the paths and roads once more become passable and the water clean. We will give you a solitary hut where you will not be disturbed."
Although this was not what Mahavira would have chosen, he thanked his host and accepted his invitation. He took up residence in a hut on the hillside overlooking the river and there he sat down to meditate, closing his mind to whatever went on around him. At first, all was peaceful. But the monks kept many Cows, who would browse among their dwellings in search of food, and who liked to eat the straw from the thatched roofs of the huts. The monks kept them away by beating them with sticks, but Mahavira would never do that. He ignored them and continued his meditation, unconcerned by the disturbance or the loss of straw from his roof. When the monks saw his hut was being damaged, and that he did nothing to protect it. they were disturbed
"You are neglecting your duty," they accused him. "We care for our dwellings, but you do not. Why is this?"
Mahavira meditated in silence and gave no answer. He saw no reason to stop the cows from eating that was what they wished to do, or to explain himself to his neighbors. So the monks complained to the
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