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In the proud past, many generous, gem-like men were Shravak. So he won't lament much. So I would take the
born to 'Jinshashan.'¹ They helped and supported the necklace. As soon as I recover my debts and acquire finance, I
'Sadharmika'² with due 'respect and affec on by rendering would buy a new necklace and lend him back”.
financial or sympathe c aid. One such gem shravak³ had come Thinking thus, he got up early from the Pra kraman
to upashray⁴ for pra kraman⁵ on a fes ve religious occasion. ritual. Taking advantage of the darkness, he took the necklace
Before star ng the (Samayik)⁶ spiritual ritual, he removed his and immediately reached his home! A erwards, when the
diamond necklace from his neck and put it aside. owner of the necklace didn't see the necklace, he understood,
Great, Gracious Bhagwan (God) has really showered because only that Shravaka was si ng beside, over there. He
abundant grace by showing us the Samayik ritual for the returned back home without u ering a single word.
upli ment of our souls. One gets a golden opportunity to On the way, he thought in his mind, “Oh! How careless I
lessen one's infatua on for ornaments and jewellery and get am, I paid no heed to know the sorrowful situa on of the
immersed in the innate quali es of the soul! Shravaka had put Sadharmik and failed to trace the pain! How big calamity he
the necklace aside and was doing Pra kraman at ease, but a must be suffering, which provoked him to take such a step! Or
poor Shravaka si ng beside him thinks, else would a son of a noble mother (Shravika) do such thing?
“Oh, the necklace is precious and I'm in a sorrowful Oh! He won't steal even a dry straw of grass.” Because he
state. I need to clear my debts or else I ought to sell the utensils knows the losses of the -
and also my house building. Right now, it is dark. Who is going 1) Time and quan ty of happiness through the and
to see? Let me grab and go away” On the other side, he illicit means is very less. Instead, the dura on of resul ng
thought, “Oh! Such a grave sin of the in a religious place? miseries in this life and a erlife is very very long. Also, the
Never, how dare I take? I came over here to follow the religious quan ty of pain is enormous'. What is the benefit of
prac ce and do I commit sin right then? No, I won't “He needlessly invi ng miseries? It is be er to suffer li le sorrow of
reversed his thoughts, but his confusion increased” How would present poverty than to commit the .
I solve my debts? Anyway, the necklace is of a religious follower 2) Our parents who showered boun ful grace on us by
giving birth, nurturing and upbringing us. They and the clan
1. The Jain community gets blemished by the the . Instead of serving ones parents
2. Coreligionist and repaying the kindness, how can one defame and disgrace
3. A householder who observes small vows
4. Monk's place them? Good parents also feel sorry and sorrow for them.
5. Essen al daily ritual 3) The evil habits of the soul prevailing from infinite past
6. Samayik - a vow to a ain equanimity by abandoning all sinful acts, get boost up through the and get so concretely stuck to the
forbidding to touch even water, fire, women, ornaments, mobile, light, fan, soul that it becomes impossible to eliminate them in the
electricity etc. and to study religious books or chant Bhagwan's name for 48
minutes. present or future many lives. Also one is unable to develop
34 The Diamond Necklace 35
