THE VOICE WITHIN

There once lived a householder named Anand in the city of Vanijya. He was vastly wealthy with tens of thousands of gold coins, along with huge investments in trade, ornaments and other assets. He was also highly respected by the king as well as common citizens.

One day, Lord Mahavira visited Vanjiya and delivered a sermon. Hearing it, Anand resolved to accept the twelve vows of a householder. After following these vows for fourteen years, he decided to renounce worldly affairs. So he called his children and transferred all his business and family responsibilities to them, telling them not to stop him in his spiritual pursuit.

Through performance of severe austerities, Anand attained mental bliss and purity of soul. He attained Avadhijnan, the state of limited divine knowledge. It so happened that Lord Mahavira and his disciples were again in town. One day, while Gautamaswami went to collect alms, he overheard people talking about Anand’s poor health, and that he had attained a blessed state.

So Gautamaswami headed towards Anand’s abode. When he arrived, Anand offered his salutation lying in bed. He told Gautamaswami that he could see up to the twelfth Devaloka or heaven. Gautamaswami however felt that although such knowledge was possible for a householder to attain, he could not see that far.

“You have told me a lie. You must therefore repent and do prayaschit,” said Gautamswami. Anand was mortified, for he was telling the truth. He did not want to disobey his spiritual teacher, but he also thought it unfair to repent when he had told no falsehood.

“Guruji, is it necessary to repent even when someone is telling the truth?” Anand asked respectfully. “No,” his preceptor replied.

Still skeptical, Gautamaswami returned and told Lord Mahavira about his conversation with Anand. Divining for a moment, Lord Mahavira said, “Gautam! Anand is right. He has attained such Avadhijnan that he can see that far. How could a knowledgeable person like you make such a mistake? You are the one who should ask for his forgiveness.”

Regretting his mistake and also proud of his disciple, Gautamaswami went back to Anand to apologize. On his part, Anand was gratified that Lord Mahavira took the side of truth, and not that of his first disciple, Gautamaswami. It was remarkable that a superior monk like Gautamaswami, who had very high spiritual accomplishments, was seeking his forgiveness.

Anand was once again convinced about the strength of the faith so lovingly instilled by Lord Mahavira in his disciples and followers. He felt a deep reverence for Gautamaswami and other monks who followed Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara who had attained Kevalajnana or omniscience long back, and was now spreading the light of his supreme knowledge.

When he felt death approaching, Anand fasted till the end and was reborn as an angel in Saudharma Devaloka. After completion of that heavenly life, he was reborn as a human in Mahavideh and in due course attained final liberation.

— the harbinger