महाश्रमण ने कहा

1. तुम कार्यकर्ता बनना चाहते हो यह अच्छी बात हो सकती है पर तुम यह सोचो तुम्हारा अपने काम, क्रोध व भय पर नियंत्रण है या नहीं | - आचार्य श्री महाश्रमण 2. यदि यह आस्था हो जाए कि मूर्तिपूजा करना, द्रव्यपूजा करना धर्म है तो वह तेरापंथ की मान्यता के अनुसार बिल्कुल गलत है | हमारे अनुसार यह सम्यक्त्व को दूषित करने वाला तत्व है | - परमश्रद्धेय आचार्यश्री महाश्रमणजी 3. जो भी घटना घटित हो, उसे केवल देखना सीखे, उसके साथ जुड़े नहीं | जो व्यक्ति घटना के साथ खुद को जोड़ देता है, वह दु:खी बन जाता है और जो द्रष्टा ( viewer ) भाव से घटना को देखता है, वह दुःख मुक्त रहता है | ~आचार्य श्री महाश्रमणजी

Saturday 30 March 2013

Anand Sravak

A millionaire named, Anand lived in the town of Vanijya. He had ample of wealth, property and owned 40,000 cows.  He was highly respected by the people of his town for his good nature.
Once, Lord Mahavir visited the town. People gathered in large numbers to hear Lord Mahavir’s discourse. Anand also went to hear. Parmatma’s words entered his heart and affected  him so much that he decided to observe the twelve vows of a Shravak.
He followed them for fourteen years and then decided to renounce from the worldly affairs. Anand Shravak, as he was now known, handed over all his responsibilities to his sons as he wished to spend the rest of his life doing penance and meditation. His deep meditation and purity of mind purified his soul. As a result, he gained Avadhignan.
Once while Gautamswami went to collect alms, he heard people talking about Anand shravak having attained Avadhignan and about his deteriorating health. Gautamswami couldn’t believe what he heard, so, he decided to visit Anand shravak. When he arrived at Anand shravak’s house, Anand shravak was lying in bed. He paid his salutations to Gautamswami and told him about his Avadhignan. Gautamswami told Anand that it was not possible for a common man to attain Avadhignan and he should ask for forgiveness and repentance for lying. But Anand shravak was telling the truth. So very politely, he asked Gautamswami if it was necessary to repent when someone is telling the truth. Gautamswami’s answer was NO.
However, Gautamswami still couldn’t believe that Anand shravak had gained avadhignan, so he went to Lord Mahavir to clear his doubts.
Lord Mahavir clarifying Gautamswami’s doubts told him that Anand shravak was telling the truth and  had indeed gained Avadhignan. Lord Mahavir also told Gautamswami that he should ask for forgiveness from Anand shravak. Realising his mistake, Gautamswami immediately went to Anand shravak’s house and asked for forgiveness.
Towards the end of his life, Anand shravak fasted until death. He was then born as a Dev in the Saudharma heaven. After completion of that life, he will take birth in the Mahavideha kshetra and attain liberation.
Moral:
This story tells us that a Shravak should always be very polite and humble while correcting the mistakes of any saint.
It also tells us that Gautamswami was a true follower of Lord Mahavir. He would follow Lord’s commands without raising any doubts or arguments His simplicity, humbleness and respect towards Lord Mahavir was limitless. There was no ego in him of being the first disciple and could easily ask for forgiveness when he was wrong