Way of Life Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 78

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THE WAY OF LIFE
a devotee of the Paramatma to attain salvation. But it had become a question of prestige for him.
Naradji gave the Seth one year's time and straight went away to Vaikunta. God said to Naradji, “Now give up that Seth, he is not really willing to come here." But Naradji did not believe it. His purpose of bringing the Seth to Vaikunta became stronger. He was not prepared to believe the words of God. Obstinacy is such a thing. A high sense of self-importance lies concealed in obstinacy. Egoism causes a fall. What caused the fall of Jamali Muni? Jamali Muni did not pay heed to the words of Bhagwan Mahavir who was ommiscient and who was a Vitrag (One who has destroyed all attachments). Do you know the incident that took place in the life of Jamali Muni?
PRIDE IS FIRE
Prince Jamali married Priyadarshana, the daughter of Bhagwan Mahavir. Subsequently both of them received initiation into the life of renunciation and spiritual endeavours at the feet of Bhagwan Mahavir and they joined the society of mendicants. Jamali mastered the eleven Angas (the most sacred scriptures). Once, Jamali fell ill. In the evening, after performing Prathikraman (atonement for sins) a bed was being prepared for Jamali Muni by a mendicant. Jamali asked the mendicant, "Is my bed ready?” The mendicant replied, "Yes, it has been spread". At once Jamali Muni paused and then went to his bed to sleep. He noticed that the mendicant was till preparing the bed. The action of spreading the bed was still going on. Jamali became very angry and said, “You are a mendicant. You have taken a vow to discard falsehood; and you are a great practitioner of vows. Why did you utter a lie? The bed is not yet ready but you said that it was ready".
Folding his hands, the mendicant said politely, "Oh great ascetic, Bhagwan Mahavir himself has said that the action that is going on can be said to have been completed. This is a spoken dialect and approved by all. Bhagwan has said "SATU " which means the action that is being done may be said to be a completed action.