________________
DISCOURSE 63
201
sons and daughters; do they not? Will there be any reformation in your families? Do you desire to reform your families ? ARYARAKSHIT READY TO FULFIL HIS MOTHER'S DESIRES
Aryarakshit asked his mother: "Mother! Are you not pleased with my mastery over the Shastras ?" He looked into the eyes of his mother and asked thus in a tone of agony. Rudrasoma also looked into the eyes of her son and said to him: "Dear son ! How can I be pleased with the kind of Shastras you have mastered. The knowledge that is obtained with the purpose of earning money does not bring you spiritual elevation. It will only bring you spiritual ruin".
“You are my beloved son! You have come home after a long absence. I am greatly delighted to see you. But the Shastras you have mastered will not bring you spiritual welfare. They can only bring you money and honour. You will be a scholar in the Royal Court. You will defeat many scholars in disputations; you cannot, by these things, defeat your inner enemies. How can you attain spiritual elevation without defeating your inner enemies like desire, anger, deception, arrogance, pride and pleasure? My aspiration is that my children should attain spiritual elevation; and that they should carry out such studies as will purify their souls and destroy their sinful karmas”.
Aryarakshit heard the words of his mother which were sweeter than sugar. He held both the hands of his mother; and said : “My dear mother ! Kindly tell me which shastras I should study to please you. You command me at once. I will do nothing else. I will carry out your commands. My only desire is to please my mother”.
Who spoke thus? It was a great scholar who spoke thus. This is the noble impact of our culture. The greater the scholarship that people attain in our scriptures, the greater is their politeness and obedience. If any system of education makes people proud and arrogant, it should be realized that such a system is despicable and defective.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
