Transmutation of Personality through Preksha Meditation

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 95

a second more. When the monk saw him utterly restless and writhing in pain, he pulled him out of the water and said, "Why are you so impatient; pupil? Couldn't you keep in water for a little while more?" "The youngman, manifesting his inner turmoil, said, “Gurudev! what do you mean? I would have died. I couldn't endure a moment's delay. Did you really want to stifle me to death?"
The monk smiled and said, "No, son! I didn't want to take your life; I only wanted to show you the path of sadhana."
"How's that?", cried the pupil.
Quenching his curiosity, the monk said, "When you were about to drown, you were so terribly restless for air, as not to endure being in water even for a second more. When you display the same keenness for sadhana, you'll find the path all right."
For sadhana, one must have a deep urge. The irresistible urge leads one to the path naturally and easily. After one sees clearly what path to follow, one must lead a life of self-restraint in accordance with the prescribed rules. Rather, if one may put it differently, after one has attained the starting point of sadhana, life itself becomes disciplined and regular. From the viewpoint of sadhana, the undertaking of certain pledges has a special significance. Without these, the obstacles to further progress cannot be removed. Just as the rough and rugged ground is first levelled before sowing the seed, similarly in order to sow the seed of dhyana, the uneven ground of conduct is smoothened through the observation of mahavrats and anuvrats. After this ground is made even, the sowing of the seed of dhyana becomes very easy. On the basis of the above facts, three things become abundantly clearfirstly, there must be curiosity about one's being; secondly, there must be the irresistible urge for sadhana, and thirdly one must take certain pledges and vows. In the progress of sadhana, this trinity plays an important role.
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