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WORLD-FLIGHT AND SANNYĀSA
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has a longing to follow. There will be no merit in it if it only amount to the throwing of a morsel to a beggar or a dog.' Those who do not give the food themselves but who rejoice in the act of giving by another, and entertain the same noble thoughts which fill his mind, also attain to the happiness of a bhogabhumi; for it is only a question of the purity of thoughts and feelings. This is the reason why the devas come rejoicing on such occasions, when food is offered to some great Saint or a WORLD TEACHER.
Risabha Deva strolled away again into the forests after the partaking of the ikshu-rasa (the cane juice). All assembled praised Sreyansa for his keen intelligence in finding out what was to be done on such an occasion and in succeeding where others had failed. Even Bharata came down from Ajudhya to congratulate him. To them Sreyansa related his previous history and that of the WORLD TEACHER. They were all filled with wonder, and understood the reality of Life-surely, dust thou art to dust returnest, was never said of the soul !'
People now understood the manner in which food should be offered to a Saint. From this time onward there was no difficulty felt in this regard by men, when offering food to the WORLD TEACHER. The food-whatever it be should
