________________
DISCOURSE 60
defects which are not in him. The motive behind the propensity to calumniate a person is to ruin someone or to cause his fall. What does not a person do when he is prompted by this motive ? Such a man condemns his enemy; calumniates him and also hatches a conspiracy against him.
163
Someone from the Audience: People calumniate even spiritual heads who are benefactors.
Maharajashri: Do not say, "People"; say: "Devotees". Others do not see defects in spiritual heads; only those who pass for devotees see them. As long as spiritual heads keep pleasing such devotees, they praise and admire them; but if those spiritual heads happen to displease them for any reason, they begin blaming them and calumniating them. Some ignorant, intellectually slothful people take interest in seeing the fragments of defects in spiritual heads.
WHAT CAN WE SAY TO SUCH DEVOTEES?
A Sadhu, once, told me about his experience in a small town. The Sadhu went to the small town. When he went there, it was about 2 or 3 o'clock in the after-noon. Two devotees came to the upashraya to perform the Samayik; and after starting the austerity, they began counting the beads. They had the garlands in their hands; but their eyes were fixed on the Sadhus and the articles they carried with them. Meanwhile, a woman's voice was heard from outside: "Maharaj Sahib May we come into the upashraya?" There were two men sitting in the upashray; so he permitted the women to come in. came in; saluted the Muniraj; and sat down. The Muniraj began conversing with them. The two devotees went away after completing the Samayik; and the two women also went away.
Two women
The two devotees went out of the upashraya; and began calumniating the Sadhus. When in the evening, some twenty people came to perform the Pratikraman (the atonement) they began talking about the Sadhus, in whispers. The Muniraj was intelligent; so he understood the situation. After the Prati
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
