Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 18

THE WAY OF LIFE
miserliness increases, doesn't it? If one is a merchant and if one is a Jain or a Shravak he should never be a miser. Am I right?
From the Audience: We are Jains for the name's sake. We do not possess the virtues of true Jains. We do not possess true Jainatva.
Maharajashri: At least, you have the aspiration to attain true Jainatva. Who prevents you from becoming a true Jain? Do not be merely a merchant or a businessman. A certain writer of Nitishastra has upbraided a mere merchant. He has said; "If a king is pleased with someone, he gives him some land; if a landlord is pleased with someone, he gives him some corn; but if a merchant is pleased with someone and he does not become pleased soon but if he is pleased with someone by a mistake, he merely claps his hands by way of approval.” That means he does not give him anything. Nagarjun gave a precaution to Ded from this point of view, in the beginning itself. He wanted to bestow upon him the miraculous power, namely Suvarnasiddhi; you see!
The merchant, Ded saluted the feet of Nagarjun yogi and received his command. He vowed that he would act in accordance with the yogi's commands. The yogi demonstrated to him his power of Suvarnasiddhi, by means of an experiment. He smeared some herbal juice to some pieces of iron, and threw them into fire. The iron pieces became transmuted into gold. Then, the yogi got the same experiment carried out by Ded; and the experiment was successful. Ded was supremely happy.
It was natural that he should have been delighted thus. Fortune had favoured him. His punya or merit had brought about its effect. His punyodaya had led him into that forest and it was his punyodaya which had brought him in contact which such a great yogi as Nagarjun. After making the acquaintance of Nagarjun yogi, Ded had made a sensible and intelligent effort to make that meeting fruitful. He had made an intentional effort in this regard. On account of his destiny and his endeavour, the sun of happiness and prosperity arose in his life which had been enveloped by the darkness of poverty.