Page 89 - Desire to Disaster

him so many times. Fortunately for him, the elephant
developed jāti-smaraña-jñāna and could clearly recall his
previous lives. Once he could see for himself the painful and
calamitous consequences of his attachment, he deeply and
sincerely regretted his past actions of mind, speech and body.
He renounced his rāga {attachment} and willingly took up
the vows of an unrestrained layman with samyaktva (deśa-
virata samyagdrishti). He also committed to a life of self-
control and penance. He has vowed to practise chatta {fasting
for two days} followed by chatta in a continuous loop. Now
he is your sādharmika, and a tapasvī! Hence, please provide
him with pure, cruelty-free food and water, allow him to live
undisturbed on his own. Take good care of him, treat him
with love and respect. He is now one of you! His spiritual
purity is such, that he will help your soul on its spiritual
path.”

The king and his citizens were amazed to hear all this. They
were all deeply convinced of the efficacy and effectiveness
of dharma. Some of the more motivated among them took
up the five minor vows of being a Jain layman and vowed to
take up certain practices of penance as per their capacity.
The moment people realise the absolute worthlessness and
innate sorrowfulness of sañsāra, they scorn it and deeply
regret all the wrong things they did, driven by attachment
and aversion, that have caused them such grief.

Following this, the king himself took upon the task of serving
and taking care of the elephant. He took excellent care of the
elephant. The elephant led a deeply spiritual life, practising
the vows as faultlessly as he could. In a few years, he died
a natural death while practising his religious activities, and
was born in heaven as a prince.

While he was alive as an elephant, he experienced intense
paścāttāpa {repentance, remorse} for all his acts of mind,
Desire to Disaster 89