Page 72 - Desire to Disaster

someone’s downfall. Sensuous pleasure becomes unimportant
to the seeker.

These are the indicators of inner awakening:
1. His/her focus in life

2. If the focus is truly on the soul and not on external factors,
then that person stops looking at his own family members
and loved ones with special bonding. He feels the same
compassion and amity towards them, that he feels for all
living beings in the universe.

3. If he sees a hungry beggar, he will not merely feel pity for
him. He will try to feed the beggar. But also, he will try to
help the beggar on to the right path, by teaching him to not
lie, not commit violence, not steal, etc. His compassion will
ensure that he is not merely helping a person at the physical
level but also at the spiritual level.

Sunanda felt great compassion, pity and regret for the tragic
end of Rupsen’s life. She was happy that Rupsen’s soul would
not languish in sañsāra. Instead, it would attain liberation.
And she was thrilled that she would have the opportunity of
giving him the right instruction on the nature of the soul and
the path of liberation.
The king and queen now requested the monk, “We do not
see any path before us, except taking the five great vows. So
kindly stay here for a while. Let me organise my succession
and the smooth running of my kingdom. After that, I shall
be able to renounce the world without any worries. So kindly
permit both of us to renounce the world and become your
disciples.”

The monk replied, “We are following the instructions of our
guru. Hence, we have to depart for the neighbouring village,
where our gurudeva is staying at the moment.”

72 Desire to Disaster