Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 35

during the youth and passes away in old age. Since all those aspects are thus momentary, what is the use of being entangled within the chain of attachment? The essence is that all of them are fickle and transitory; you are indivisible and indestructible; as such try to attain your true everlasting state.
Lesson 43: Unique forgiving
Forgiving is a sword with which one can overcome the internal enemies; it is an armor to protect the pure character. One, who observes equanimity even in unbearable distress with a pure mode, crosses over the worldly sea. Gajsukumär, the handsome younger brother of Krishna Väsudev, adopted renouncement at the young age of twelve on listening to Lord Nemnäth. Thereafter while he was meditating in a cemetery, he attained the ultimate liberation by resorting to unique state of forgiving. Let me tell you that story.
Gajsukumär was engaged to a beautiful daughter of Somal Brahmin. Prior to the marriage, however, he renounced the worldly life. Somal got intensely mad to see that his daughter was deprived of her happiness. While looking for Gajsukumär he came to the cemetery where the great monk Gajsukumär was standing in concentrated meditation. He picked up sticky wet soil and made a circular rim on Gajsukumär's delicate head. Then he placed blazing pieces of firewood within it and put coal and firewood pieces therein. That gave rise to a big fire, which enveloped the body of Gajsukumär. Then Somal left the place.
You can imagine how much pain that might have caused to Gajsukumär, but he stayed in equanimity. He did not indulge even in a trace of anger or aversion and remained tuned to soul. He said to himself, 'If you had married his daughter, he would have given you a turban in dowry. That turban would have been torn in due course and that could have made you unhappy. You should feel grateful that instead of worldly turban he has put the turban of liberation on your head.' He thus stayed in equanimity and internal purity while undergoing the unbearable pain. That led to the manifestation of omniscience and omni-percipience and he attained the infinite bliss.
What a unique forgiving and what a unique outcome! The spiritual philosophers have said that one merely needs to turn to his innate pure nature; once he turns accordingly, the liberation becomes handy. How pious instruction is provided by the renowned forgiving of Gajsukumär!
Lesson 44: Attachment
You have frequently heard the name of Gautamswämi, the first Ganadhar of Lord Mahavir. While several of his followers attained omniscience Gautamswämi himself did not attain it, because he had attachment for Lord's body, complexion, speech, appearance etc. The impartial law of the disentangled Lords states that attachment towards any aspect leads to unhappiness. Attachment arises out of delusion and delusion gives rise to worldly wandering. As such, Gautamswämi could not attain omniscience so long as his attachment for the Lord did not give way.
When Lord Mahavir attained liberation, Gautamswämi was returning from the town. He became very sad to learn about the Lord's departure. Afflicted by the pangs of separation he uttered, “Oh Lord, forget taking me with you, you did not even remember me! How does it befit you?" While thinking over such fancies his attention turned towards detachment. He said, “This is my foolishness; he was detached and dispassionate, why would he hold attachment towards me? He had equanimity for the friends as well as the foes; I am unduly bearing attachment towards the detached Lord and that is the principal cause of the worldly life.” While pondering over it Gautamswämi gave up lamentation and gained the detached state. That led to the manifestation of omniscience and he attained liberation at the end.