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370
Discussion with Gośāla Ka.
At that time Ārdraka Muni a disciple of śramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvîra, who was staying at Quñasila pleasure-garden along with the Venerable Bhagavina-hannened to meet with Clośālaka on a road Detaining him, Gośalaka told him:-Brother! Listen to me. I am going to tell you an old account
Āydraka Muni: -- Alright
Gośālaka:-Your religious preceptor Śrāmaņa Mahāvira was moving about alone in secluded localities but now he gathers round him a company of Sådhus and delivers sermons on various subjects.
Ārdraka Muni:-Yes, I know it. But what else are you going to say.
Gośālaka.- I mean to say that the mind of your religious preceptor is unsteady formerly, he was living in a secluded place, and he was moving about alone He was perfectly free from intrigues of every kind But now, sitting in an assembly of ascetics and laymen, he has been giving interesting sermons. Does he intend increasing his income hy plea-ing the public with his attractive sermonu? By acting in this way, he does not mind that there occurs a marked difference between his previous pra ctices and the present ones If he thinks that ascetic life consists in moving about in deserted localities, it is proved beyond and doubt that his present practices are contrary to ascetic life and in case his present practices are contrary to ascetic life and in case his present practices are in strict accordance with rules of ascetic life prescribed by various sāstias, then his previous practices were utterly futile But O good man i This variation in his previous and present practices cannot be said to be utterly free from faults. As far as I can judge, his previous practice was only suitable in as much as it was attended with renouncement his so journ in desolate localities, but for the present, leaving
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