________________
achieve greatness through their sons and there are those who are known neither through their fathers or their sons. Examples of such beings were Nabhi Raja and Lord Rishabdev, they were both great. Let me tell you about Nabhi Raja....
One day, he was sitting in his parliament, and all his ministers, courtiers, Prime Minister, and the general public were present. The people seated there told the king " Oh mighty King, you serve the public, you are dutiful, and a supporter of the truth, you treat the common man like your own son, and your fame is spreading through the world" On hearing these words Nabhi Raja turned and looked into a hand mirror that he had kept next to him. Each time he was praised he would look into the mirror. The public found this very strange.
Why was he doing this? He was checking in the mirror to see if the people were really telling the truth. Was he really worthy of their praise? He was looking to see: Are there really such qualities in me?
The individual who looks into the mirror, keeps his ego under control. Ego is the hardest and harshest of enemies. It is a like a sweet poison, that works its way slowly through your system. To conquer it is very hard.
Praise feels very good, and one can drown in that praise. When someone is talking badly of another person, you tend to enjoy it, you like it. You like the thought that you are great, and others are not so great. You sing your own praises, and enjoy that no one is talking badly of you.
There was once a sculptor, who made lovely statues of Gods and Goddesses. Someone told him that he had only one month left to live. He got scared. He could not sleep at night, and felt that he could see death dancing in front of him every moment. Finally, he went to a saint and fell at the saint's feet. He cried and pleaded with him, and said "I don't want to die, please save me from death." The saint told him to make nine lifesize statues that looked exactly like him and make the
"
.
161
amrender muni ji maharaj
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
