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DISCOURSE 91
247
You have given us great co-operation to carry out our austerities according to the principles of samyamadharma”.
MESSAGE IS RECEIVED THROUGH AMITY
Vankachul could not say anything. Words got choked in his throat. His eyes welled up with tears. He saluted the feet of the Acharya and the next morning he came to the Acharya. The Acharya and the sadhus were getting ready to set off on their Vihar.
Vankachul accompanied the Acharya to show him the way out of the forest. There was a feeling of gloom on his face and in his heart. They reached the border of the village and all walked forth. They found a straight road. The Acharya stood there and all the sadhus also stood there. The Acharya looked towards Vankachul. Vankachul was standing with his head bowed and his hands folded. The Acharya said to him,
"Noble man, now we have come out of the village. May I give you some spiritual advice ?"
"Surely, Gurudev. You may. Kindly preach to me the Dharma that is proper to me. You know that I am a robber”. Vankachul began to weep bitterly. The Acharya moving his hand softly over Vankachul's head, said, "I will administer four vows to you. Can you live according to them ?”
"Kindly tell me what those vows are”. Vankachul was eager to hear what the Acharya had to say. The desire to hear the words of a spiritual head, arose in him. His politeness inspired this desire in him. He felt greatly eager to hear the words of the Acharya.
The Acharya said, 1. "Before attacking any jiva with a weapon, you must
move seven paces backwards”. This is the first vow. 2. You should not eat any unknown fruit. This is the
second vow.
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