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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
116
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
to keep away from these influences. A sadhu or an ascetic can only describe his experience of spiritual bliss. But, he cannot give that experience to others. You must experience it by means of your own efforts.
Here is an example which illustrates how difficult it is to make others share an experience.
It was the day of Diwali (a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus). Every house had been illuminated and was resplendent. People were praising the splendour of the lights. A blind man asked, "Brother! How is this light?" One man said, "It is white."
The blind man asked, "What kind of white is it?" The man said, "It is like the colour of Bakula birds."
The blind man said, "How is a Bakula?"
The man bent his hand in the form of the neck of a Bakula bird and said, "Bakula is like this."
The blind man said, "Yes, yes now I have understood how crooked the light is."
The man beat his forehead with his hand because the blind man had not understood his meaning. Finally when his blindness was cured he could see light for himself and understand its nature. When the mind becomes pure by means of self-discipline it can experience spiritual bliss.
If you take a question to a sadhu and if your mind is free then you will get an answer to your question.
A certain gentleman saluted the Preceptor and asked him, "I have a question to ask you, if you permit me, I will ask you that question."
The Preceptor said, "From where have you come?" The man said, "I have come from Bombay." The Preceptor said, "Where are you going?" The man said, "I am going to Delhi."
The Preceptor said, "What may be the price of Basmati rice in Bombay?"
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