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82
Journey into Jainism
When he heard about the avadhi-gyana of Anand, he came to see him. Anand paid Gautama the proper respects and asked, “Lord! Is it possible to have avadhi-gyana during the lifelong fast?"
"It's not possible in the case of a householder,”' answered Gautama. Anand said, “I have achieved avadhi-gyana. I have achieved the capacity to know distant things happening in all directions."
Hearing this Gautama was awe-struck and said, “A householder cannot have such high capacity to know the objects. You have spoken an untruth, so you have to observe praayaschitta for lying.'
"Should one who speaks the truth undergo repentance or should the other who tells the lie?" asked Anand politely.
Gautama said, “Of course the latter one.” Anand replied, “Then, Sir, you will have to repent.”
Gautama straightaway went to Mahaavir and asked about the capacity of a lay follower to attain avadhi-gyana. Mahavir said that Anand had indeed gotten avadhi-gyana.
"You have not spoken the truth,” Mahavir reprimanded him, "so go to Anand and beg his forgiveness."
Gautama returned to Anand's home and apologized for his utterance. Anand continued the life-long fast for one more month. Then he left the body and became a denizen of heaven.
