Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 15

DISCOURSE 73
tremely hungry was not prepared to eat the food secured from an unknown house. Ded had been starving for three days. Yet, he was firm in his conformity to noble conventions and that too, he stuck to his way in the presence of a great yogi.
5
THE STRENGTH OF THE MIND KEEPS DECLINING
Will you examine your inner self a little? May I hope that you will not disregard and break your noble conventions and principles even when you are confronted with ordinary impediments? What are the various things that you say?
*When we are travelling we do not get any other vegetables; so we have to eat roots. We have to eat vegetables like potatoes.
*We have to attend parties there, we have to eat roots. We go to hotels and there also we have to eat roots.
*Eventhough we do not drink liquors; sometimes, we have to attend parties with our bosses and friends; and at such parties, we cannot refuse to drink at least a little for the sake of social etiquette.
We have to eat food in the nights.
People say such things. Such mental weakness is widespread among people. Men who lack mental strength or will-power cannot conform to conventions and principles.
A man who is mentally weak and cowardly cannot secure the grace of a great yogi. Divine compassion descends only upon people who possess mental strength and patience. The merchant, Ded possessed will-power as well as patience. Though he had been starving for three days, he refused to eat the food that had been miraculously secured by the yogi from some unknown house. How fearless he was in refusing to eat the food given by such a great yogi as Nagarjun!
NAGARJUN WAS IMMENSELY PLEASED
Nagarjun was immensely pleased with Ded's unflinching conformity to noble principles and conventions. He told Ded