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activities. What is wrong if such a profitable business runs longer ?" Isn't this reply difficult to believe? Really hats off to her.
Then someone clarified that although this lady had been suffering with such pain since last 10 years, she had been performing the ritual of pratikraman, (repentance of sins) daily, not missing it even for a single day. Even while suffering so much, she had done the auspicious ayambel oli, (fasting for nine days with only once in a day meal of boiled food), twenty times. To add to the list of surprises was the fact that she had done three masakshamans, (complete fast for one month). In the year 1998 she had done masakshaman twice in the same year. Choked with emotion and full of reverence, when the acharya sprinkled the vasakshep, (consecrated sandalwood powder) as a token of his blessings, on her head, she requested : "I still want to do one more masakshaman. Please shower me with your blessings so that I can do it”!
With the power of her inner strength and understanding, she bore her illness with so much fortitude that people who went to offer their sympathies came back making her as their inspiration idol, whom they would like to emulate. The difference between religion and science has been truly demonstrated here. Science tries with all its might to reduce the pain. Religion gives the power to endure the pain. When all the weapons have to be laid down, i.e. when no further remedy is available, science reaches up to the level of "mercy death", whereas religion provides the most important emotion and that is maintenance of equanimity at death. Instead of going down on your knees before misery, there is greatness in bearing it
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MIND YOUR mind : 59
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