Journey into Jainism: The Value of Self-Awareness

Published: 12.10.2017
Updated: 13.10.2017

It was just before midnight and Kamdeva, a follower of Bhagawan Mahavira was deeply immersed in his meditation. Suddenly he was confronted with a horrid and demoniac figure.

"Kamdeva, give up practising your meditation and your moral values or else I will decapitate you with my powerful sword" ordered the demon in a derogatory voice. Kamdeva, however, was in a state of higher self-awareness and deep meditation and felt no fear. Mentally he was completely unperturbed.

"Kamdeva, give up practising your meditation and moral values or else I will decapitate you with my powerful sword" ordered the demon in a derogatory voice.

When the demon noticed this, he became annoyed and enraged at the same time. He decided to make another approach and assumed the shape of a giant elephant. He hurled himself towards Kamdeva and threw him up into the air with a powerful force. When Kamdeva landed, he trampled his feet on him. To the demon's dismay, however, Kamdeva was still completely unaffected and his meditation went on undisturbed.

At this point, the demon was absolutely furious and could not believe his eyes. As his last resort, he adopted the form of a fierce serpent and repeatedly stung Kamdeva with his poisonous venom. Still Kamdeva remained in complete tranquillity. The demon accepted his defeat and left after an apology.

One day it happened that Lord Mahavir came to thetown.

Lord Mahavir called many monks and nuns and announced the news: "Worthy monks, Kamdeva is a householder, but yet he has attained a remarkable degree of self-awareness. He has stoically endured all the tests he was put to by the divine powers. He has achieved the summum bonum of life. Being monks, your self-realization, equanimity, stoicism, and concentration should be of an even higher level." Self-awareness is an eternal burning lamp that lights many more lamps.


End of Book

Sources

Title: Journey into Jainism
Author:
Sadhvi Vishrut Vibha (Samani Smit Pragya)
Publisher: Jain Vishwa Bharati, Ladnun, India
Edition: 2012

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Some texts contain  footnotes  and  glossary  entries. To distinguish between them, the links have different colors.
  1. Concentration
  2. Equanimity
  3. Fear
  4. Mahavir
  5. Mahavira
  6. Meditation
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