________________
NOVEMBER 2013
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
41
A True Jain is full of Politeness and is Courteous
Gujarati : ACHARYA VATSALYADEEPJI . English Translation : PUSHPA PARIKH
Once upon a time
always polite and courteous. Bhagwan Muni suvratswami A Story From Aagam Katha
The king was happy. A was touring in a country. At
very big crowd was present on the day of Parna'. When that time a rich man by the name Kartik Sheth was Kartik Sheth served the ascetic the ascetic showed staying in Hastinapur where a king was ruling. Kartik funny gestures on his face and also uttered, at last sheth was genuinely religious man and he had vowed you had to bow down no!" for twelve religious penances before Munisuvartji. He
Kartik Sheth kept quite but he was in an angry mood. was a strict follower of Jain religion.
The king definatley praised the culture of Kartik Sheth. Once an ascetic visited Hastinapur. He had some He said in his mind.' Kartik Sheth is polite as well as knowledge but was knowing some tricks and could do religious in the true sense. some miracle also. He was proud of his knowledge.
Kartik Sheth was satisfied that he had understood People also used to praise him and loved to see him.
the religion in a true sense. He proved his duty as a Kartik Sheth heard about the tricks and miracles by good citizen. Whereas that ascetic was happy believthe ascetic but he did not care to go and see him. He ing that he had defeated Kartik Sheth. Such is the world. always believed in doing good works and was always You should be ready to study and see a problem from ready to help someone who is in need. He also be the opposite side also. Kartik Sheth learnt a lesson lieved in the theory of karma i.e. do good deeds and that if he had accepted the path of restraint (Aparigraha) you get good reward and bad work gives bad reward.
before this incident the matter would have been differDevotion to religion should be always there.
ent. Dependency is for worldly people and not for a Kartik Sheth was rich enough and a leading per- Sainyami (a man of selfcontrol). Now atleast I should sonality in the city Hastinapur.
accept Diksha (leaving worldly pleasures) and he Day by Day the ascetic became more and more marched towards the path of restriction. *** popular amongst the people and was also feeling more Kennaway House, 6/B, 1st Floor, V.A.Patel Marg, proud. He head heard about Kartik Sheth but never Mumbai - 400 004. Telephone : 23873611. met him. Somehow he wanted to call on Kartik Sheth. He thought of a plan. He started fasting and declared
POLITENESS that he would break his fast only if Kartik Sheth came
"It is a wise thing to be polite; consequently, it is a and served him. The king when heard about this, he
stupid thing to be rude. To make enemies by thought that if Kartik Sheth does not come the people
unnecessary and willful incivility, is just as insane of Hastinapur will be cursed by the ascetic. He himself
a proceeding as to set your house on fire. For went to Kartik Sheth and conveyed the message of the
politeness is like a counter--an avowedly false coin, ascetic. Kartik Sheth immediately agreed. Kartik Sheth
with which it is foolish to be stingy." believed that a true Jain always believes in God, Guru and religion. A true Jain does not believe in any type of
"Politeness. Now there's a poor man's virtue if ever show off and miracles. The king invited the ascetic and there was one. What's so admirable about requested him to break the fast. He told him that Kartik
inoffensiveness, I should like to know. After all, it's Sheth was already informed and was ready also be
easily achieved. One needs no particular talent to cause he was a true Jain who believed in Anekantvad.
be polite. On the contrary, being nice is what's left (not to impose one's ideas forcefully on others) He when you've failed at everything else. People with agreed to act according to the wishes of the king while
ambition don't give a damn what other people think serving in the function. He said, "My religion does not about them." stop me from serving somebody. It teaches me to be
