True Stories:

Once a gentleman came to me with his teenage son. He asked me to give some advice and guidance to his son. I asked him, "What kind of advice? What for?" The man said, "We are Jains. We belong to a STHAANAK - a residence for monks. When I go to the STHAANAK, my son also goes with me. There he listens to the religious discourses given by the monks. Now my son does not take interest in his studies and he has become negligent about his food and diet. He has given up games and sports. He does not care about day to day activities. He stays at home and whiles away his time like monks. I can tolerate what he is doing to himself. But his younger sister and brother are being influenced by his conduct. Right now his younger brother is only six years old. I am concerned about the future of my children. Please advise him not to think of becoming a monk at this tender age."

I did not say anything to the teenager. Turning toward his father, I said, "Give your son the life story of Bhagwaan Mahaveer to read. In case he does not like to read or he is unable to read it, then you should read it to him. After he has learned the life of Bhagwaan Mahaveer, bring him to me. At that time, I will give him my advice."

After four or five weeks, the father and son again came to see me. The father said, "My son has listened to the life story of Bhagwaan Mahaveer in its entirety. He listened attentively and with interest. In the process, his facial expressions displayed a variety of emotions. Occasionally, he read the story of Mahaveer on his own with enthusiasm. Now he is ready for your precept."

I turned toward the son and asked, "Did you listen to the story of Mahaveer attentively?" He said, "Yes, I learned it." I said, "You should follow in the footsteps of Bhagwaan Mahaveer." Then I said to the father, "I have given my advice. Now you please go home."

The father seemed to be disappointed. He was heavyhearted. They both left. Later on I learned that the father was gratified with me but the monks of the STHAANAK were not very happy because the boy had started to participate in games and sports. He was eating properly. He started to do his school work diligently. He engaged in serving others. The entire atmosphere of the household had improved.

People asked me, "What mantra did you give to the child?"

I said, "I had simply asked him to follow Bhagwaan Mahaveer."

A while back, I had a talk with a gentleman who had been living in Jain surroundings all his life. Still he did not have appropriate regard and belief in the Jain religion. He had more faith in Bhagwaan Ram than in Bhagwaan Mahaveer. He considered Gita to be more practical than the Jain scriptures. He asked me, "In your opinion, is it more beneficial for us to follow Ram or Mahaveer? Who makes a more profound impression on the hearts and minds of the public?"

I replied, "Both great souls have attained NIRVANA. (According to Jain texts, Bhagwaan Ram attained NIRVANA at Mangi-Tungi, a place of pilgrimage for Jains.) In their respective times, both have exemplified supreme ideals. The two great personalities have pursued somewhat distinctive approaches based up their circumstances and needs of their times. We should follow both depending upon our circumstances and needs. Both are worthy of our worship."

He said, "I don't follow the import of your statement that we should follow both depending on our needs."

Providing some clarification, I said, "If we are in a situation similar to that of Ram, such as our father asking us to leave our home due to some family problems, we should respect our father's wishes and leave home just as Ram did.

On the other hand, if we decide to leave our household for the benefit of the society at large or in spiritual pursuit, and our father asks us to stay home out of parental attachment, we should follow in the footsteps of Mahaveer, talk with our our parents and prepare them so that they give us their blessings. We should follow the example of Bhagwaan Ram and fight the individuals who control and suppress ordinary citizens and women. We should learn the lofty ideals of respecting the wishes of our parents and teachers from Ram, as also the convictions of brotherly love, allegiance to a single spouse, and eradicating the undesirable elements of society. In situations where the so-called religious personalities, in the name of religion, mislead unsuspecting masses to indulge in control and repression of helpless women, children and animals, we should do what Bhagwaan Mahaveer preached. We should make a sincere effort to eliminate improper religious concepts and practices. To summarize, we should follow both great souls. Both are worthy of our admiration."

Long ago, there lived a poet. One night the poet was resting on his bed with his eyes closed but he was not getting any sleep. Thoughts were arising in his mind like tidal waves. It was late at night.

Suddenly, the poet heard some kind of noise in the house. He opened his eyes and noticed that a man was collecting some things on a sheet. The poet continued to lie silently. The burglar collected a lot of stuff and proceeded to make a bundle. However, the sheet was too short for the amount of goods he had assembled. The burglar tried his best to tie the knot but to no avail.

There was no other large enough sheet in sight. So for a moment the burglar paused to contemplate his next move.

The poet was watching the burglar's predicament. So he got up and sat on the bed. He said to the burglar, "Brother, don't worry. I will help you in securing the knot."

On hearing this, the burglar was surprised. He started to escape but the poet said, "Don't be afraid. You intended to do a big favor to me. I have accumulated a lot of stuff in my house. I do not need much of it. You are helping me in relieving my burden. These goods will be useful to you. I will always be grateful to you for this favor."

These words of the poet made a great impact on the burglar's heart. He said, "Please no, I will not take anything."

The poet said lovingly, "Son, you must take this material. You have assembled it with considerable labor. How can you leave it here?"

Saying this, the poet got up and tied the bundle. The bundle was heavy, so he helped the burglar in lifting it and bade farewell to the burglar.

When the burglar reached home, he narrated the entire story to his mother. She was surprised and said, "My son, what did you do? The individual whom you have burglarized is not a human being, he is an angel. Go back, return his materials and ask him to pardon you."

The burglar had been touched even before being admonished by his mother. On her advice, he returned to the poet's residence and placed the bundle at his feet.

With tears in his eyes, he implored, "Please keep your goods and forgive me. I take a vow that I will never steal anything in the future."

The poet picked him up and embraced him. The burglar kept his word and started to work as a farmer.

The poet was Banarasi Das, the eminent Jain scholar of the medieval ages and writer of the famous work 'ARDHAKATHAANAK'.

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