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THE WAY OF LIFE
Aryarakshit had carried out his studies at Pataliputra. A scholar who had studied at Pataliputra was honoured throughout the country. Aryarakshit had become an incomparable scholar, having studied in Pataliputra. But he did not feel proud of his scholarship when he sat at his mother's feet. At the feet of his mother, he was only a polite and obedient son.
HOW CAN HE BE A SCHOLAR IF HE DOES NOT REALIZE THE VALUE OF LOVE AND COMPASSION ?
"I am literate. I am a scholar; but my mother is illiterate and uneducated”. The man who thinks so is really uneducated. Those who do not realize the value of love, compassion and affection are not really scholars even if they have mastered all the shastras.
Rudrasoma said : "Dear son ! I will be greatly happy if you study the Shastra called Drishtivad”.
Aryarakshit said, "Drishtivad; is it? What is Drishtivad ? Who will teach me that shastra ? I am hearing the name Drishtivad for the first time". He liked the very name of the shastra. His eyes sparkled with delight. His face beamed with delight. Rudrasoma read the feelings on the face of her son. She said : “My dear son! A Jain Shraman (mendicant) who possesses great spiritual strength and enlightenment; who has renounced all attachments and evil propensities, whose heart overflows with the emotions relating to the supreme good; and who is an ocean of knowledge can teach you Drishtivad. Such a great Jain Acharya by name Thosaliputra is staying now at the sugarcanegarden. He happens to be your uncle as he is my brother. He will teach you that shastra. You go to him and under his guidance you study Drishtivad. That will give me great delight. If you master that shastra, I will think that my womb is an ocean in which a precious pearl of serene lustre has appeared”.
How many mothers to-day know the name of Dwadashangi? How many mothers know the titles of the twelve angas and what they contain ? Rudrasoma did not mention the titles Acharyang, Sutrakritang, Sthanang etc. She merely mentioned
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