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Where is the real refuge? What is a true shelter? "Surely, religion is the true shelter, I will sit down in a quiet religious place and say prayers for true peace."
People waited anxiously, seven days passed, clouds gathered in the sky and it became very, very dark. The sky was filled with thunder, and the lightning was so bad that people were really afraid. The king was not afraid, he sat in a lonely place, meditating and praying.
Lightning did strike but it did not strike the king. It struck hundreds of yards away from the king and did not harm him.
The king was safe.
the people of the town rejoiced as
true shelter is the shelter of religion.
d:\jain\story
8
THE THREE JEWELS
A rich merchant from India went to another country and met the king of the country. The merchant presented jewels and diamonds to the king as a token of goodwill. The king looked at these precious jewels and was very surprised to see such beautiful stones and diamonds. He said, "One day, I will visit your country."
So the king went to India and met the same merchant again. The merchant started showing him all the jewels and diamonds. The king admired each piece and was amazed to see such a large and beautiful collection.
Meanwhile a man came and said, "Lord Mahavir has arrived in the outskirts of the town and is preaching about the three jewels in our life."
The merchant, being a very religious person, got up at once and went outside the town where Mahavir Swami was preaching. The visitor king, who was eager to hear of these three precious jewels, accompanied the merchant.
Lord Mahavir was explaining that the real precious jewels that one should try to acquire are not those of diamonds and rubies which are mere stones.
