Shraman Mahavira

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

Page 55

THE GLOOM OF FEAR THE LIGHT OF FEARLESSNESS
37
this distance without suffering in the way the chimeras, the ghosts, the wild beasts
What else these doors be but the thresholds of our mental ruffledness! What does the opening up of these doors signify? Nothing but the concentration of mind The ideas and the dreams are nothing but the gathered up impressions of the past, the latencies that need purging up What do these chimeras and wild beasts stand for? They are no more than accumulated layers after layers of notions and imprints of experiences
The wild shrieks, the elephant and the python appearing near Lord Mahavira are his impressions and mental grooves that projected themselves thus He is proceeding on across the deep gorges Each pursuant needs must cross these gorges prior to realising the truth and the self Lord Buddha also crossed these gorges He was in meditation It was the fullmoon day of the second month of Indian calendar viz Vaisakh. He experienced a little restiveness He, then, resolved-'I shall not leave this seat without attaining enlightenment Gradually, he faced the chimeras of beasts, python and monsters These figures tormented Buddha But his patience was unexhausted. The mind at last was tranquillised He was enlightened
This contains the spiritual course that leads to Godhood. No spiritual pioneer can afford to short-circuit this course
Now begins the second year of his pursuit He is in transit from South Vachala to North Vachala He was pleased to traverse along the median of Kankhal hermitage He proceeded a bit when he came across some cowherds The latter forbade - him to advance thither
'Does it not lead to North Vachala ?' 'It does, sire? "Is it not shorter than the round about way?' 'That it happens to be 'Then what prevents me from passing along this course ?' 'It is not safe, my lord 'Name the danger, I say.'