Page 56 - Desire to Disaster

4. Bring out your inner strength and quell attachment and
aversion through the following measures:

a) Arihanta Bhakti - worshipping the Jinas with complete
devotion
b) Vitarāga Smaraña - keep reminding yourself of the
omniscient Jinas and their
teachings

c) Guru SatsañgaSevā - find a true guru and learn from him
with great humility and devotion

d) Tapa - penance
e) Tyāga - renunciation

f) IndriyaDamana - control of the senses

g) Vrata-Niyama - live by the rules and practise the penances
espoused by the Jinas
h) ŚāstraVāñcana-Manana - study the scriptures, reflect
upon their teachings

Rebirth as a Swan

The crow, upon being struck by an arrow shot by the King,
died a painful death. After dying, he was reborn as a swan
who lived in the adjoining lake. Soon, he grew into an adult
swan and lived in the same lake.
One day, the king revisited the park along with his wife.
After a while, he placed his head on her lap and fell asleep
by the riverside.

The swan saw Sunanda from a distance and fell in love
with her yet again. He stepped out of the lake, walked up to
Sunanda and said in his own language, “What a marvelous
face!” The swan danced a jig to show its happiness on having
seen the queen yet again. The swan was so caught up by

56 Desire to Disaster