Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 006587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 276
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision thousand cows each. When Ananda saw this chief disciple of Mahavira, he bowed down and asked "Bhagwan, can a layman attain clairvoyance ?"
"Surely, while living his worldly life, a monk's devotee can attain the third great knowledge-clairvoyance."
Ananda's face lighted up when he heard this. He said, "Bhagwan, I have attained clairvoyance. By virtue of it, I can see fifty jojans (50 x 8 = 400 miles) deep in the Lavana sea to the east, the west and the south. I can directly recognize all things as far as Saudharmakalpa in the sky and as far as Lolachchua hellish abode in the other regions."
Ananda's voice smacked of experience. Members of his family, who had collected around, heard this with surprise. Gautama Swami thought for a while and then said, "Ananda! A shravaka can attain clairvoyance, but it cannot be so farreaching as you said. Your statement is delusive. You should immediately practise penance for it."
Shravaka Ananda had full faith in his contention. He said, "Bhagwan ! Does Bhagwan Mahavira's dispensation perscribe penance for him who tells the truth ?"
"No."
"Then you should practice penance. You made a wrong statement," said Anand with confidence.
This statement of the monk's devotees confused Guru Gautama for a while. People began to say that Ananda had crossed the limits of polite speech : on the one hand, there was Gautama, the greatest of monks, and on the other hand, there was Ananda, the layman. An ocean is an ocean and a lake is a
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