Walk With Me

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

Page 73

Ch. 7: Sadhana
Ajja Chandana overheard our conversation and joined in. “I-too, am wondering about Bhagwan's lonely years. I am thinking about the dangers and the hardships he faced, and also about the emotional pressure he may have faced to give up and return to the old, comfortable life of physical pleasures. All that suffering but Mahavir never gave up."
“No doubt Bhagwan did suffer a lot!" Sudharma intervened. "But, do not link suffering with self-realization. Suffering is everywhere. All living beings suffer but such suffering does not bring Self-realization." Understanding Mahavir's secret would certainly give us some pointers.”
I responded to Sudharma by repeating Maharaja Indravardhan's words. “Vir Vardhaman was totally absorbed in his search for reality. He had such a mastery over his body and mind that he could take physical pain and pleasure with equanimity and without any distraction."
“But how is this possible?" Ajja Chandana demanded gently. "How did he master his body and mind? You cannot just walk away in the forest and turn off your mind so that hunger, sleep deprivation, and boredom no longer bother you. One can go without food for a few days, but eventually must yield to the pangs of hunger!"
"You are right Ajja Chandana”, Sudharma said. “However, this is true for the early stages of sadhana. Gaining control over our emotions and physical needs is a slow process, but it is achievable! We can endure physical pain when we are fully absorbed in achieving our goal.”
"It is likely that in his early days of sadhana, Vardhaman was uneasy with the demands of his body for food and sleep. However, his sadhana started long before he left his palace. Lost in his quest, he was
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Jain Education Interational