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THE LORD'S BIOGRAPHY SOME IMAGES AND SKETCHES
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even-dismember them When such heinousness marks our conduct with men, how can we be clement to animals? I wish this order to go Coercion can hardly change the system A change of heart alone shall bring about the desired change A preponderance of love shall open up the new era I will have to establish a rapport with each soul I will have to sacrifice my ego on the altar of equanimity The Herculean task entails nothing short of the biggest sacrifice, dogged pursuit and selfless devotion
The Self-embraced Yogic Death of the Parents .
As sudden as the descending dusk after bright evening, the heart of Mahavira was engulfed in gloom He sought to analyse the cause It was a premonition of the impending demise of king Siddhartha and queen Trishala The intuition of Kumar led him to the chamber of Siddhartha Siddhartha and Trishala were found to be conferring with each other there He could see that they we engrossed in some serious Issue He felt hesitant at the threshold to transgress their privacy Having caught sight of Kumar, Siddhartha called him in 'Opportune is your visit Kumar We heeds must consult you In fact we ourselves were going to summon you hither' Kumar offered his obeisance and said, 'Pray accept my greetings your majesty I await your kind word to carry it out instantaneously'
'Don't you see Kumar, we are ageing? Any day this life might be snapped Shall it not be proper to hail death ere the latter summon us? Shramanas have ever braved death unhesitant Lord Parshva has taught us how to prepare ourselves for the last voyage Now is the moment we feel when we should translate the preaching into action'
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Kumar was anguished to hear this unanticipated gloomy discussion The idea of parental bereavement was too much for him Said he, 'Father, the subject is least palatable to me 'It is not a matter of one's discretion Kumar You have to grapple with facts The destiny shall fulfil itself It is inevitable What avails one to negate it?'
