Page 184 - Courage Redifined

He further explained the basic ideologies and the path of
salvation which comprised of right faith, right knowledge and
right conduct (samyak darshan – gyana-charita).

The learned scholar was impressed by the path of religion
preached by the great Acharya. In that too, the knowledge
right upto the minutest living creatures of algae, the path
of charitra showed to stop its violence, the other codes of
conduct to follow after accepting charitra – it all left the so-
called learned scholar spell bound. He felt, “This is such a
high-end philosophy. The Vedas do not comprise any of the
things present here. Who other than a Sarvagna can show
all these minute details ? How much can one rely on the
religion preached by someone who does not possess complete
knowledge ? How can he demonstrate the method to swim
over the great ocean of birth and death ?”

Kamlata did not have a lot of knowledge but the Acharya’s
simple method of explaining acquainted her with the realities
of life.

Kamlata got saved :

That was it! Both mother and son decided their future course
of action. They renounced the material world and accepted
charitra – the noble, ascetic life. Their grave sins were floating
before their eyes and hence they exercised strict penance,
tough code of conduct, bore difficulties with composure and
engrossed themselves in the study of scriptures and meditation
of God with the goal of washing away all their previously
practiced sins.

They lost their courage while experiencing sins and now
accelerated it while exercising religion. Now it isn’t surprising
if their past sins got burnt and destroyed in the fire of their
courageous and strict conduct. Is it ?

174 Courage Redefined