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Agreeable Disposition
begging and the well-to-do persons think that they can buy even the monks. It should, however, be remembered that those, who can be bought, are not true monks; they could be hypocrites. Before trying to buy over a monk one should be able to realize the true importance of monastic life.
In ancient times, the rulers considered it a duty to take care of the learned men. When the great scholar Kanäd was busy composing his work, the king of the place sent to him a plate full of gold coins. But Kanäd did not even look at it and remained busy with his work. When he did not care for the gold, the king sent to him a plate full of diamonds, but Kanäd did not look at it too. So long as one does not remain absorbed in his work, the outcome will not have the spiritual flavor that can give satisfaction to the author.
Since Kanäd did not look at gold or diamonds, the king thought that the scholar must have some higher type of wealth. In order to figure it out he went to Kanäd in disguise. That time the latter was sleeping. The king therefore sat by his side and started serving his feet. Kanäd woke up and recognizing the king he asked, “Why do you serve the feet of a pauper like me?” The king was under the impression that Kanäd must have Päras, which is supposed to turn iron into gold. As such, he asked for Päras. Kanäd replied that he had nothing of the sort; but he said that the Lord is the Päras that can turn the iron of the downtrodden souls into the gold of blessed ones.
It should be borne in mind that wealth cannot lead to liberation, nor can it prevent death. Anger, arrogance, greed and delusion are the disease-bearing germs that eat away the health of the soul. We need to overcome all of them and make our life faultless and agreeable. One who has attained the agreeable disposition, cannot indulge in violence. His evil instincts get blunt; his behavior remains similar to the surface of a polished wood that does not hurt.
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