Meditation and Enlightenment

Author(s): Chandraprabh
Publisher: Jityasha Foundation

Page 73

Stages of Trance : Solitude, Silence
and Meditation
It happened very long ago. Once Mahavira called his Chief disciple Gautama near him. Mahavira said to Gautama : “My dear disciple! I know that you love me very much. If you have to choose between the wealth of the three worlds, and the feet of Mahavira, you will certainly prefer to offer your devotion and worship to the feet of Mahavira. I would not ask you not to love me. I would rather ask you to love yourself as much as you love me. Accepting one's own self is believing in the existence of God.
Mahavira explained to Gautama, "Don't negate your own self for my love. My love would be definitely helpful in your welfare. Attachment for me would certainly help you to desist from the attachment to the world. But you must keep in mind one thing that 'attachment' is after all 'attachment. Therefore, go and first of all make your life a 'life'. Before the death comes and embraces you, find out the wealth of your life. Before the fragrant flowers in the form of life, wither away, do make meaningful uses of the same. Today 'Jineswar' (Lord Jin who has vanquished desire) is standing before you. If in his presence you could not do any good to yourself, then there will be no worse wretched person than you”. This is but the trend of a common man. When living greatmen, ‘Tirthankars' (Jain prophets), sages come his way, he remains asleep, and when they go away, then he makes their idols and worships them. Today you would not get any thing from me, and when I will go away, you will make my idols and move about worshipping them. Today ‘Jin' is in front of you. In ages