Acharya Tulsi
A moment is an invaluable ingredient of life. The man, who values the moment, knows himself. He who ignores the moment, repudiates himself. It has been said, “Appraise time." To appraise time is to appraise one. Imprints left on the sands of time can be indelible; likewise writing on the forehead of time can be ineffaceable, provided it is something rare. Time is dynamic. The current of time flows for ever. No one can bind it. The only way of binding time is to utilize it properly.‘ A right decision taken in time and seasonable action becomes a rare document of history. One must, therefore, needs be alive to the demands of time. It may knock at our door at any moment. We must listen to its knock. It may possibly change the entire course of our life.
Bahubali, embracing monkhood, gave himself completely to sadhana. With the passing of days and months, a whole year elapsed. During this period he never took any food, nor drank any water; nor did he make any movement, nor opened his eyes. Like a statue of stone, he remained motionless. The creepers around him, with his straight body as their support, grew long and high. The birds made their nests there. Yet, Bahubali was not successful. Thanks to Lord Rishabh’s prompting, two sadhavis named Brahmi and Sundri visited Bahubali. They sang a song. Bahubali heard the words of the song. It was a unique moment. Bahubali's ego burst, and he was illuminated by the light of omniscience.
SamratShenlk’s son, Nandisen became a monk-, His mind went astray and he found himself caught in a woman s snares. Even in that predicament, his consciousness remained extroversive. He took a pledge that he would exhort at least ten persons every day and sends them to Lord Mahavir, and that he would not partake of food or drink till he had done so. This went on for 12 years. During this period he forgot all about his monk-life. ln accordance with his resolve, he was busy stimulating new people. On that fateful day he was able to prompt nine of them, and he sent them on to Lord Mahavir. The tenth man he was working upon was goldsmith. Nandisen kept urging him, but to little purpose. Meanwhile, his woman was awaiting him for dinner. When it grew very late and Nandisen did not reach home, she went out and sought him herself. When Nandisen demurred about his unfulfilled resolve and that he could not eat until he had sent the tenth man to Lord Mahavir, she said, It’s no good. After all a man can only make efforts. That you have done. If the other person does not pay heed, what can you do about it? You can't impose understanding upon them, can you? After all you were able to persuade nine persons. If the tenth man refuses to understand, take yourself for the tenth and your daily pledge is fulfilIed." This natural outburst of the woman touched Nandisen’s conscience like anything. He immediately got up, put on his monk’s robe, and taking his broom in his hand, went down the stairs. He went straight to Lord Mahavir and was reinitiated into monkhood.
On hearing of her brother, Shalibhadra’s proposed initiation. Subhadra started weeping. Her husband DhanyaKumar asked her why she wept. Subhadra said, My brother isgoing to become a monk; He has 32 wives and he is renouncingthem one by every day!"
Dhanya Kumar said, "Subhadra; your brother is a coward! If he really wants to become a monk why this drama? Let him renounce them all at once and seek the protection of the Lord!"
Subhadra felt hurt by this criticism of her brother and said. “It is easy to criticize, but very difficult to act. Before satirizing others, one should better set an example by one's deeds."
These words of Subhadra pierced Dhanya Kumar’s heart. His valour woke up. He instantly decided to become a monk and while departing said, “will, Subhadre, good-bye; Don’t wait for me to return!"
Hanuman, the devotee of Rama was flying over Sumeru Parbat in a vimana (an aircraft). He saw the sun setting behind the height summit of Astachel. The memory of the ruddy beams at sunrise and of the hot sun at mid-day, started in his mind a train of thought— "The sun rises, becomes hot, and sets. That is the plight of all living beings. A time will come when I, too, would expire." The thought made him restless. A moment of unrest made him renounce his kingdom and become a monk.
A youngman, accompanied by his family, was traveling by car. The engine of the car failed and the car came to a stop. The young man tried hard to restart the engine, but without success. At last he gave up and sat by the roadside in direction. A mechanic happened to pass that way. He asked for a thousand rupees to set the engine right. The demand was rather excessive, but since there was not alternative, the young man engaged the mechanic. The mechanic took up his hammer and with one hit started the engine. The young man stared at him in surprise Then he said, “Sir; Do you ask for a thousand rupees for just one hit? The bargain is too dear;"
The mechanic said, “All this money is not for making a hit for that One rupee would suffice. The rest of the sum Fees 999/- is for knowing where to hit and how? Only a hit on the mark is effective.
The five instances given above prove that in order to bring about a change in life, a single moment is enough. Only if we could grasp the right moment and use it in the right way.
