Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 25

Since they do not have a trace of foresight, they do not think over it and remain continually involved in sinful activities. The concern for subtle compassion is not seen even among the followers of Ved and Vaishnavism, but they are far better than those, who do not have the slightest concept of compassion. They have at least understood the concept of protecting the gross life.
How fortunate are we that we treat it sinful even where a flower petal gets hurt! We stay away from violent sacrifices and such other rituals. We try to protect the living beings to the utmost possible extent and totally avert deliberate violence. We are also generally not inclined to take root vegetables and other non-eatable articles.
That wholesome approach at present exists by virtue of the ascetic force and the instructions of Lord Mahavir, the son of Siddhartha. One can get wealth, pretty wife and obedient children. He may also get a large family, reputation and authority. It is not hard to gain such things, but it is very hard to gain the essence of religion and faith therein, or even a part of it. The wealth and other achievements can become the source of sin in absence of discernment and can lead to infinite misery; while even a little faith in fundamental can lead to a higher level. Compassion thus invariably leads to wholesome outcome.
Since we are born in religious family, it is worth adopting a compassionate approach. We should always take care to protect all the living beings and should also urge others to do so by advancing logic as well as rationale. I am going to narrate in the next lesson an intelligent plan that Abhaykumär had devised for protecting all the beings. How fortunate could we be, if we get the opportunity to provide the instructions pertaining to the essence of truth to those, who resort to wrong faiths akin to the uncivilized culture!
Lesson 30: Protecting all types of life, Part 2
Shrenik, the king of Magadh, was once sitting in the royal assembly in the capital city of Räjgruhi. While discussing various topics some feudatory nobles pointed out that meat had been very cheap that time. On hearing it the Chief Minister Abhaykumär decided to teach them a lesson. After the assembly dispersed and the king went to his palace, Abhaykumär went to homes of the chiefs, who had talked about cheap meat.
He was well received wherever he went and those people respectfully asked him about the purpose of his visit. Abhaykumar said, "The king has suddenly developed an acute disease and the physicians called for the purpose have suggested that the disease can be cured by feeding him a few grains of meat of a delicate liver. Since you are close to the king, I have come here for getting the meat."
How can one give liver-meat without courting death? As such, every noble said that it was not possible for him to give the meat. In order, however, to keep it a secret, each of them offered fancy amount to Abhaykumar with the request not to disclose his unwillingness to the king. Abhaykumar thus went to every noble one after another. None of them gave meat; all of them offered substantial amounts instead. Abhaykumar thus continued to collect the amount from place to place.
The next day all the nobles came to the assembly and took their seats. As the king came and occupied the throne, each of the nobles went to him to enquire about his health. Shrenik was astonished to hear it and looked at Abhaykumär. Thereupon the latter said, "Your Majesty, yesterday these nobles had said that meat was cheap. I had therefore gone to them to get a few grains of meat. They could not give it and offered me the amounts instead. Is thus meat cheap or costly?"
The nobles felt ashamed to hear it. They looked down and could not utter a word. Thereupon Abhaykumär said, "I have not done this in order to make you unhappy; my intention was to give you a lesson. If we have to give meat from our body, we are scared, because we have attachment for our bodies. The creatures, whose meat we avail, would also have similar attachment for their bodies. We try to save our life even by offering substantial amount; those helpless creatures also must be craving for saving theirs. We have senses; we can speak and move; they are dumb and devoid of senses. How sinful is it to give them the pain