Shraman Mahavira

Author(s): Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Mitra Parishad Calcutta

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NON-ACQUISITION VIS-A-VIS FEARLESSNESS
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Lord coming He informed the chief monk He emerged from his hermitage and instantaneously recognised the Lord He offered his hospitality to the Lord The two greeted each other On the chief monk's insistence the Lord stayed there for a day The next day he made his move for the fresh destination Said the chief monk
'Great Monk! Treat this hermitage as your own You reside here so long as you choose Since you have decided to move let me not be an obstacle However, I wish you make this place as your residence during the coming rains'
Mahavira left the place During the next few months he roamed about the neighbouring places Since he had committed to be there again he returned thither before the advent of rain It is a marvel that the self-centered passionate lover of freedom that he was submitted to the desire of the chief monk The chief monk arranged for Mahavira's stay in a cottage He occupied it He had only one engagement, that of profound meditation, and by this introspection unravelling the true existence buried under the thick layers of acquired impressions When he cared a fig for the native cottage (of body) why would he bother himself about the monk's cottage? The hermit who owned the cottage did not relish this carelessness of Mahavira towards the cottage He requested Mahavira, 'It is better if a little care is spared for this cottage'
Time elapsed The sky was cast and lo, it began to rain summer succumbed to the new season Cool breeze cheered the heated up nerves The air was exultant The earth was garbed in lush green
The kine haunted the jungle pastures The grass was not yet high It had just sprouted The starving cows would approach right up to the cottage in search of grass The other hermits protected their cottages carefully The cows would explore the only cottage that was vulnerable where Mahavira resided They would consume the straw of its thatches The hermit approached the chief monk and submitted,
'The cows eat up the straw of my cottage I brought it to