Page 62 - Desire to Disaster

did not move his beloved. She stood there while his lifeblood
ebbed away in a river of red.

We are strange creatures! We are obsessed with knowing
more about things that have absolutely no connection with
our lives! We do not trust our parents and elders but blindly
trust our enemies. Our infatuation with the opposite sex, our
desire for material wealth and our obsession with sensual
pleasure binds us to sañsāra. Rupsen’s story is the best
example of this.

(For further enlightenment on this topic
refer appendix 1 on page no. 92)

Rupsen’s life was torn apart by his obsession with Sunanda’s
physical beauty. He died when a wall fell on him. In the
very next birth, he was aborted by Sunanda. He was then
reborn as a serpent and killed by Sunanda’s guards. He was
reborn as a crow and killed by the guards. And then reborn
as a swan and killed yet again. Despite this, his attachment
for Sunanda’s beauty had not decreased one bit! He was not
ready to give up his obsession with her. Reborn as a deer,
he had once again been shot down cruelly by an arrow from
the king’s bow. As he lay there dying, his love for Sunanda
dwindled not one bit.

Lack of Self-Control leads to Rise in Passion and
Attachment

Just look at the tragedy of karmas! While Rupsen continues to
be reborn and is killed cruelly each time, Sunanda is still in
the same incarnation. The snake of attachment and aversion
is strengthened by the lack of self-control and penance. The
poison emitted by this snake is so lethal, that the jīva has
to constantly bear its disastrous consequences. The lack of
self-control exacerbates attachment and aversion. This is why
those who desire spiritual emancipation, need to tackle the
lack of self-control first.

62 Desire to Disaster