Walk With Me

Author(s): Chandanaji Acharya, Vastupal Parikh
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 67

Ch.6: Vardhaman - Education and Ordainment
On the other hand, my brother had no difficulties leaving his friends and the relatives with whom he grew up. He did not appear to be concerned about such problems as: Where shall I go from here? Where will I sleep? What shall I eat? Who will accompany me? Who will look after me if I am not well?
Nandivardhan could not hold back his tears. Despite the passage of so many years, his intense brotherly love overwhelmed him. I held his hand to comfort him. Such a strange bonding! Both of us loved Mahavir; now we were bonded as well through our hearts.
Nandivardhan continued, “My dear brother grew up in regal luxury, but was now on a lonely path. He bravely pulled out his own hair, and wore only a piece of divine cloth on his shoulder. He had no one to tell him where to go; no guide, no guru, no pre-determined path! I can still picture him walking away leaving us behind. We kept on watching, with tears in our eyes, until our dear Vardhaman disappeared completely into the distant woods.
Gurudev Gautam, on the day Vardhaman left home I was worried and depressed, and remained so for 1242 years. However, when I saw his brilliance today, I realized that Vardhaman may have left the childhood friends and family, but has endeared the entire living world as his friend. He may have given up his physical wealth, but he has gained an everlasting, invaluable divine treasure.'
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Jain Education Interational