Walk With Me

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

Page 72

Walk With Me
the human mind instinctively react with anger and violence towards inhuman atrocities? How did Mahavir gain mastery over his mind to react with so much compassion?
My older colleagues usually suppress their curiosity. They know that the answers to such questions can be found only through selfexperience. However, the new and younger monks cannot contain their curiosity, and often ask how Mahavir achieved such self-discipline. “Gurudev," they ask, “Tell us how Bhagwan Mahavir survived those twelve and a half grueling years. We want to learn the art of enduring hardships and achieve self-discipline. Such information would help us. It would be a beacon of light for our journey. Please do tell!"
What could I tell them? Can such things ever be taught? Nandivardhan told me that Vardhaman had full control over his physical pain and pleasure before he left the palace. With full command over his body and mind, Vardhaman was no longer distracted by the demands and desires of his body. I trusted Nandivardhan, but his explanation did not satisfy my curiosity.
This afternoon while I was still pacing the ground thinking about Mahavir's 12 years of sadhana, Ganadhar Sudharma joined me. He sensed my restlessness and asked, "You seem to be lost in a different world, Ganadhar Gautam. What are you thinking about?"
I answered, “I am trying to string together the twelve and a half years of Bhagwan's sadhana. Those mystery years are extremely important for all of us. They could guide us in our sadlana."
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Jain Education Intemational