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THE WAY OF LIFE
happiness in this life and in the other world. Therefore, you must act according to Dharma with firmness and determination". Vankachul thought, "I have attained happiness in this life, Dharma may give happiness in my next life also”. His faith in Dharma became strong.
One day Vankachul set off with his companions to rob a village. After robbing the village, he was returning. He happened to be passing through a forest with his companions. All were hungry. They had no food to eat. One robber brought a number of fruits from the forest and placed them before Vankachul. Vankachul asked him, "What is the name of this fruit ?" The robber said, "I do not know the name of the fruits but I think they are tasty. They seem to be tasty and beautiful”.
"I cannot eat these fruits”. “But why ?" his followers asked him. "I have taken a vow not to eat unknown fruits". "We will eat them; we are very hungry”.
Vankachul did not eat those fruits. His companions ate them finding that they were sweet but after eating them all of them fell into a deep sleep which never ended. They died. They were piosonous fruits.
Vankachul loudly lamented over the death of his companions. He remembered the Gurudev. He saluted the Gurudev in his heart and said, "Gurudev ! you have saved me from a calamity for the second time". His faith in Dharma increased. He remembered the benefactions of his Gurudev with heartfelt gratitude. Remembering the benefactions of a benefactor also is a great Dharma. Vankachul respected many such values of dharma.
Moved deeply by the death of his companions, Vankachul discarded robbery but he took upon himself the responsibility of taking care of the families of his companions, because he thought that it was his duty. "Now, I will commit such a robbery that I need not commit robberies in the future at all. I have to rob only the palace to commit such a robbery”.
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