“Even after accepting the soul to exist eternally and separate from the body, its rarity is not due to the five elements but because of fortunate karmas. Pingal! You will understand this very well. Human beings are the least in number in the entire ecosystem! One reason for this is that the amount of fortunate karmas required to attain human life are acquired by very less beings!
Such a human life becomes a unique reason for practising all kinds of spiritual activities. Only humans can progress on the path of salvation.”
Filled with reverence, Pingal said, “Agreed that human life is rare. However, if we need to leave loved ones in that life knowing their bond to be temporary! Then, how is the company of monks permanent?”
Acharyaji said, “Where do monks have to unite with loved ones? They have to be free from the mentality of likes and dislikes! Therefore, they neither experience pleasure in company of beloved ones nor sadness in separation from them!”
Pingal asked, “Gurudev, Shikhi is talking about renouncing, believing the wealth that he has acquired to be unstable. But will renunciation stabilise that wealth? To stabilize it, one must make ways to protect it!”
“Pingal, if wealth could be secured by protection, then no rich man in the world would ever become poor. Wealth doesn’t stabilise by roaming around in the concern of protecting it. There is one way to secure it, and that is the path of Dharm! But we must not practise Dharm or accept monkhood to secure worldly pleasures, because wealth and splendour lack essence and harm the soul. That is why, Shikhi is willing to renounce these material pleasures!”
“But Shikhi is still standing on the threshold of youth and sensory pleasures of the world can be enjoyed only in this age. Shikhi is talking about detaching from these pleasures believing youth to be short-lived like a flower; this doesn’t seem appropriate! Youth can be made long-lasting using chemicals? Will renunciation stabilise youth?”
“Pingal, you have not been able to understand Shikhi’s feelings. ‘Youth is momentary, so I am renouncing with the intention of making it everlasting.’ Shikhi didn’t mean this. Infact, he wishes to utilise this momentary youth for spirituality. Capable beings should make efforts for Dharm in their youth!”
“Gurudev! Okay, agreed! But enjoyment of pleasures gives terrible results, doesn’t this belief seem wrong? Then, even eating, drinking, wearing clothes will yield awful results. So should we give up on food, water and clothes also?
“Pingal, renunciation is done step-by-step! Ultimately, the entire physical world has to be left behind and salvation is to be attained! That is what monkhood is about! There is no union of beloved ones in monkhood. Therefore, the situation of enjoying sensory pleasures does not arise. Even after consuming food, water, clothing etc., it does not give dreadful results. Monks consume food etc. with a detached mind only for the purpose of maintaining the body. So, they do not bind sinful karmas despite such consumption.”
Pingal asked, “Gurudev, as death cannot be prevented in the material world! Likewise, death cannot be avoided even in monkhood, can it? Even a saint has to die. This means Shikhi’s wish of becoming a monk is like lying in a graveyard due to fear of death! Okay, even if we believe in afterlife, yet suffering does not bring happiness. Happiness will be obtained from the sources of pleasures! Enduring the hardships of monkhood will only increase sorrow! There is no question of increment in happiness! That is why, I am refusing Shikhi from accepting monkhood.”
Acharyaji said, “Pingal, you are unaware of the fruits of monkhood. Its fruit is liberation! A liberated soul becomes eternal and free from the body. Where there is no body, there is no death. No body means no old age, no disease, no problems! There is neither separation from beloved nor union of undesired. There is no hunger, thirst, attachment, hatred or attack of ill-feelings.
The souls there are omniscient and experience unparalleled happiness. Pingal, liberation is not attained without efforts. Sobbing under the shadow of death every moment, beings should make efforts to conquer death. Such beings do not sleep in the graveyard, but stand in meditation throughout the dark night.”
“So, is there no sorrow in the life of a saint?”
“No! Infact, not even a fraction of their happiness is experienced by great kings. That happiness is internal. Where can happiness be found in this world? Whatever is found, that is an illusion of happiness! Ignorant man can never understand spiritual happiness!
• There is pain in bondage of karmas and peace in their destruction.
• There is sorrow in birth, happiness in becoming unborn.
• Old age is painful, peace in immortality
• There is sorrow in hopes and aspirations, and peace in freedom from them.
• There is pain in love and attachment and peace in detachment.
• Troubled mind is sorrowful, while a mind free from troubles is peaceful.
• Death is sorrowful, eternal state is peaceful.
Pingal, since time immemorial, beings overpowered by karma, do not recognise or understand the true happiness of the soul.
They cannot even imagine such a state of happiness. Just like a man who is sick since birth and has never seen a healthy person, he cannot understand the happiness of good health! In the same way, living in this world attacked by diseases, beings see the healthy ones and dislike them if they don’t behave like the diseased ones. They hate the healthy beings who give them ways to cure their diseases. Some highly diseased beings even ridicule and neglect those healthy preachers.
Some diseased beings listen to the teachings of the healthy, but do not understand. Some understand the measures but do not put them into practice. Even if some implement them, it is difficult to understand the essence of becoming healthy. As a result, they behave inappropriately.
Those who have cured their karmic disease, such people can certainly know the nature of the happiness of good health. Therefore, all practices of monkhood are peace-giving and not painful. Even though monks sleep on the ground, collect alms to satisfy their hunger, wear the same clothes, live in forests, yet, these conquerors of attachment and hatred experience inner happiness of freedom. Even a fraction of such happiness is rare for kings.”
Brahmadutt’s distressed mind got a lot of peace. His intense pain began to melt. His dark night ended and fresh morning began! The storm of pain scattered away. He looked at his young son who was gearing up for the battle of life.
He said to Acharyaji, “What you said is true! Gurudev, there is no doubt in my mind now! You have made me realise the greatness of monkhood by destroying my attached and miserable condition. You have awakened my hidden consciousness. By making me aware of the various problems in life, you have guided me to understand the true essence of life!”
It seemed as if magical herbs grew in Brahmadutt’s mind in the presence of Gurudev!
He thought, ‘The decision of renunciation taken by Shikhi is correct. Actually, worldly life is full of pain; monkhood is peaceful. And Shikhi is willing to accept such monkhood under the influence of Acharyaji’s divine and pure affection. That isn’t wrong either. If Shikhi holds Acharyaji’s finger to begin a new and pure journey of monkhood, then it is great! I had no clue about this! I got an opportunity to dive in the depths of Gurudev’s personality and valuable teachings. Truly, this experience has shaken my inner self. I felt Gurudev’s affection flowing avidly.’
The sunset looked wonderful at Ashok Park that day. The sun made its way between two clouds and then drifted towards the horizon.
Brahmadutt murmured, “I shall keep you in my heart, but how, O Lord?”
***
Pingal!
He got delighted!
Respect was established towards Acharyaji. His mind started praising Acharyaji. All his restlessness and confusion subsided.
Affectionate words started flowing from his mouth.
Pingal asked, “I have seen such a treasure of knowledge only here. The walls of my doubts have broken. I have received the light of knowledge. Gurudev, I have a query. How can we differentiate between the fortunate and sinful karmas?”
The same sweet voice continued again.
“A man lives in a house full of fragrance and gems, while another man blows with great difficulty to ignite fire, his house is filled with smoke and there are snake burrows everywhere in that house!
One man lives in a palace as bright as the moon and enjoys all night with beautiful women, while another man trembles alone in the cold during winter. He has wounds all over his body, grinds his teeth and spends the night weeping.
One man wears gem-studded ornaments and spends good time with his partner while another man's body is wrapped in shabby clothes and he stumbles on the way struggling for food, and that's how he spends his life!
One man fulfills the wishes of all beggars who come to his house. On the other hand, another man himself begs from door to door but still doesn’t get enough food!
Pingal, this way, the distinction between fortunate and sinful karmas is clearly visible in this world! They can also be known through scriptures! I’ll explain :
Good fortune gives human life, healthy senses, sound mind, company of wise men which helps to make efforts in spirituality and attain peaceful death. As a result, one gets reincarnated in heaven and human life again and again. The path of salvation is obtained and ultimately liberation!
Because of sinful karmas :
• One takes birth in low caste
• One has to reincarnate as animals or birds
• One has to reincarnate in hell
Beings wander in painful incarnations by committing sinful deeds.”
Pingal further questioned, “Which actions attract good karmas and bad ones respectively?”
Acharyaji said, “By observing compassion and non-violence, speaking the truth, giving up on theft, refraining from sensuality, detaching from possessions, not eating after sunset, giving up on attachment, hatred, anger, ego, deceit and greed, doing charity, observing chastity, penance, etc. fortunate karmas are bound.
I will now tell you how sinful karmas are bound.
By committing violence, lying, stealing, indulging in sensuality, intense greed, attachment, hatred, having food after sunset, disrespecting the words of Tirthankars, knowledge & the knowledgeable, criticising Lord, Guru & Dharm, hurting other living beings, consuming meat & alcohol, sinful karmas are attracted.
Pingal, these are the types of sins. Wise men wishing to uplift their soul should refrain from these types of sins and implement the activities that acquire good karmas.”
• Pingal placed his head at Acharyaji’s feet.
• Brahmadutt praised Acharyaji with utmost devotion.
• Shikhi found his wish to be very close to success. He got excited. Everyone’s heart was joyful.
It seemed as if everyone’s internal thirst was being quenched.
