________________
Questions from Bhavanabodh
Those doubting the nature of liberation are illogical rationalists. They have no idea of real happiness as they are after momentary happiness of this
world. Some having self-knowledge say that there being no means of greater happiness left except the available means of worldly happiness, those who have or claim to have self-knowledge say that happiness of self-knowledge is unending and limitless. But this statement does not show any power of discriminative understanding. Sleep is loved by every man but therein one is not able to know or see anything, and if anything is known in sleep, it is the illusory knowledge of the dreamt objects which are not real at all, but such dream experience may have some effect on the dreamer's mind. If in sleep without dream, one can see and know all fine and gross objects and yet take quiet undisturbed sleep, then how can he describe the objects seen in deep sleep? What analogy can be fitting to such experiences in dreamless sleep? This is only a gross example, but a simple person who has no discriminative understanding, can by this example be helped to think about eternal happiness that a realised soul enjoys in liberation.
The illustration of the rustic Bhil is in a little different language and with a slight change told here to help one to get some idea of eternal happiness.
To remember the essence of Bhavanabodh and Mokshmala,
thinkover the questions given below:
Anitya Bhavana - Dejection of a Beggar (Page 1)
1. Why did the beggar wandering aimlessly approach a common man's house ? 2. Why was the beggar delighted ? 3. Why did he sit under the shade of a tree ? what were his possessions ? 4. What did he see in his dream ? And how did he wake up ? 5. Why was he grieving after he woke up ?
Asharan Bhavana - Anathi Muni (Page 4) 1. What was the forest called and how beautiful was it? 2. Who was sitting under the tree ? 3. What does the king think on seeing the ascetic ? And what did he do before sitting at a reasonable distance from him ? 4. What does the king ask ascetic ? What was the ascetic's reply ? 5. What do you mean by orphanhood ? Who was ascetic's father ? 6. What pain was he experiencing ? 7. What options did his parents try to relieve him from his pain ? 8. Why is it called orphanhood ? 9. What did he think before sleeping ? 10. How did he become Lord of self ? 11. Who is responsible for hell? Who is responsible for heaven ? 12. What did king receive from Anathi Muni's preaching? 13. How does the king express his feelings towards Anathi Muni?
Ekatva Bhavana - Namiraj (Page 8) 1. What pain did Namiraj start experiencing ? 2. What meditation did the doctor suggest ? 3. From where did the noise come? 4. What did king start thinking after the silence ? 5. What did he remeber after attaining detachment? 6. What did he think before sleeping ?
60
