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DISCOURSE 11
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Maharajashri : Therefore, I advise you to organise a nightclass for learning Tatvas or doctrines. If at such a time the great doctrines are taught to you, you will acquire an accurate knowledge of the Jain doctrines and their meaning. At this time, people come only to hear discourses and some of them may not be interested in doctrinal knowledge. When we take up a discussion of doctrines, they lose interest. You need not go very deep into the meanings of doctrines but it is essential that you must acquire at least a surface knowledge of the doctrines. In order to understand even a little of Jain dharma, some knowledge of doctrines is essential.
The State of Childhood : If you contemplate on the Paramatma's boyhood, you have to know what Avadhijnan is. What is Avadhijnan? Who possesses it? These things you have to know. A man who has Avadhijnan can see and understand the inert objects or living beings existing at great distances. He can know and understand those beings or things without the help of the five senses. He can also know the thoughts and feelings existing in the minds of others. Heavenly beings possess Avadhijnan and even human beings can possess it.
THE BIRTH CELEBRATION
When the Paramatma was born, the sixty four Indras of the heavenly world carried the child to the top of the Meru mountain and there, they celebrated his birth. When the Indras took the child, Bhagwan Mahavir, to the peaks of the Meru mountain and when they poured upon his tiny body holy water from large and holy vessels, then Indra had a doubt, "Such a large quantity of water is poured upon the small body of the Bhagwan. How can the Bhagwan bear this ?" It was not an unholy doubt but it was born out of ignorance. Indra had forgotten that the Paramatma possessed infinite power. By means of his Avadhijnan, Bhagwan Mahavir understood the thoughts of Indra. In order to dispel Indra's ignorance, Bhagwan Mahavir pressed the Meru mountain with his toe. On account of this pressure, the mountain began to dance. Indra was terrified. Indra desired to understand it by means of Avadhijnan. "Who has commited this insolence of making the mountain leap about ?” When
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