Page 88 - Desire to Disaster

On the other hand, word spread to the nearby city that the
wild elephant that had troubled people for miles around, was
now in a docile mood. He had been tamed by a miraculous
Jain nun. People’s curiosity was aroused and soon, a large
crowd had gathered. Even the king of the nearby town had
been informed. He too turned up, with his large retinue. He
was amazed to see the elephant’s peaceful repose and the
nun’s gentleness. It was almost like the elephant and the nun
were competing with each other, one who could seem more
calm and tranquil.

In reality, the supremely Sunanda was clairvoyant and did
not feel even remotely interested in competing with the
elephant for anything. But because the previously violent
and destructive elephant was so becalmed as he stood there,
people assumed that the elephant and the nun were competing
with each other to see who was more calm and serene.

The local King was absolutely floored. He bowed in obeisance
to Sunanda and asked her how she had worked her magic on
the elephant.

Sunanda’s Discourse to the King
Sunanda replied that, “O king! In a previous birth, this
elephant was a man named Rupsen. He fell in love with me
and spent several births wandering in sañsāra. He suffered
greatly and yet, so strong was his attachment that when he
was born as an elephant and saw me here, in front of him,
he began strengthening his attachment with me by gazing
at me rapturously. The more you strengthen attachment, the
more firmly it holds on to you. Hence, despite his general
rowdyism, he turned quiet on seeing me and came towards
me. I saw that look in his eyes and warned him. I explained
to him what he had been doing in his past lives. And how
much he had suffered as a consequence. I asked him to turn
away from this obsessive attachment, which had murdered

88 Desire to Disaster