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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
128
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
supernatural sight, but not to such an extent as you claim. Therefore, Ananda, it is only proper that you should acknowledge that you have broken your vow of speaking the truth and repent for it."
Ananda had firm belief in his supernatural sight and its range. The conviction was firmly rooted in his actual experience. He said, "O venerable Gautama, is it required by the law of the omniscient Mahavira that one should atone for speaking truth?"
Gautama replied, "No, it is not so required."
Ananda said with self-confidence, "O venerable sir, if what you have said is true, then you should indeed acknowledge that you have violated the vow of speaking the truth and atone for that."
Gautama was perturbed. The people thought: "Ananda has insulted Gautama. He is very proud. The householder Ananda cannot even compare against the great monk Gautama."
Gautama wanted to know the truth. He went to Tirthankara Mahaviral and reported the whole incident to him. He asked, "O venerable Mahavira, tell me, is it for Ananda to acknowledge the violation of the vow of speaking the truth and to atone for it, or is it for me to do so?"
Then venerable Mahavira turned to Gautama and said without hesitation, "O Gautama, it is indeed you who should acknowledge the violation and atone for it. And you should ask Ananda to forgive you contradicting him."
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Tirthankara Mahavira had commanded his prime ascetic disciple to seek forgiveness of a householder. This was indeed quite a shocking decision. There were some people who thought: "Perhaps Gautama, a great learned ascetic, has broken the vow, But Tirthankara Mahavira should have asked him privately to atone for that rather than humiliating him in public, and he should not have asked Gautama to seek the forgiveness of the householder Ananda. The course that Tirthankara Mahavira has adopted will put the Jaina religion to shame, disgrace and disrepute, and will inspire people to mock at Jaina ascetics. A great Jaina monk requesting a householder to forgive him, indeed! That is impossible and improper. Look at the difference between Gautama and Ananda. Gautama is a great ascetic possessing vast knowledge of the principles of religion, while Ananda knows so little of the essence of religion."
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