________________
DISCOURSE 20
349
"The acharya is an enlightened person and he knows the significance of substances, place, time and the right mental state appropriate for occasions. If I explain the meaning of the Sutra to him, he will return after knowing it and he will not meet the Gurudev. He has come here to know the meaning of one sloka. But he must go back inspired with a desire to achieve his spiritual development. He must carry with him the fragrance of the Jain Philosophy". How compassionate was the Sadhvi ! How much compassion and concern she had for the spiritual development of other people ! She knew that one day the same priest; Haribhadra had gone into the Jain temple and had made fun of the idol of the Paramatma. Yet she was not angry with him. "He too must attain the knowledge of dharma". She had this emotion of compassion at her heart. She was not angry with an offender. On the other hand she was compassionate with him. This is the greatness of a saintly heart. In the world, people despise offenders and treat them with anger and contempt but the attitude of a saint is an enlightened one. Haribhadra who possessed an incisive intellect at once realised that the Sadhvis' Upashraya was resplendent with serenity and spiritual felicity. It was under the control of right discipline and spiritual command. He again saluted the Sadhvi and she bade him goodbye. She blessed him saying Dharmlabh (May you gain dharma).
In the heart of Haribhadra, there arose the emotion of Pramod (love and admiration) for the great Sadhvi. Therefore, her words made a deep impact on him. From there, he went straight to the Jain temple because the Acharyadev was staying in the Upashraya attached to the temple. The noble personality of the Sadhvi, her words and the serene and holy atmosphere of the Upashraya had made a deep impact on Haribhadra. He felt a high regard for the codes of conduct of the Jain Dharma. Therefore, he went into the Jain temple and with a heartfelt devotion, he praised the idol of the Paramatma.
Once terrified by an elephant that was running madly in the streets, he ran into the same temple and on that day, he made fun of the idol of the Paramatma.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
