09.Victory over Thirst Affliction

Chapter -9

Victory over Thirst Affliction
> Water is more important than food; and air more impor­tant than water.

> A man may live without food but it is very difficult to live without water.

> It has been said in ‘Sarvarth SiddhV, “Saints quench the fire-flame of thirst with the cool fragrant water of pro­found equanimity filled in a fresh earthen pot of patience.”

> Discerning Munis endure quietly the terrible anguish of hunger, thirst, etc. It is a victory over affliction. This causes “Samvar” (i.e., blockade of karmas). The victory over af­fliction results into subsidence of thoughts, equable dis­position and penance which in turn increase “Mr/'ara” (i.e., shedding of karmas). Accepting affliction as the fruit of his own sin that might had been committed in some previous birth and taking calamity as a debt, the monk makes himself free from that debt by conquering them. He does not hold agitated aspirations.

> It has been said in ‘Kartikeyanupreksha':

“Muni accepts sufferings and affliction as debt and re­gards these as fruits of his own sins accumulated by him in some previous birth.” Once, Achharya Shri came out for Aahar i.e., for taking his meal. Shravak offered him food with full devotion but forgot to offer him water. Next day the other host too forgot the neces­sity of offering water although Maharaj Shri waited for water for some time and then sat silently without taking it. Only the great monk endures the anguish of thirst with equanimity. What can be said about the sense of the host who forgot to offer water even on the third day?

Finally on the ninth day, scarcity of water caused blisters this situation. The operation of “Antrai Karma" became weak on the tenth day and the host Shravak offered him water. There remained no capacity in his body to take solid food, so he took only water and sat down. Curious Shravaks questioned Maharaj Shri, “You did not take even milk, why is it so?” Achharya Shri became serious and replied, ‘Today the body needed only water and you were anxious to give it milk.”

Taking food by the ascetic is also a penance and a means of shedding karma. This kind of unique penance of Achharya Shri was becoming a cause of great virtue for him. And virtue becomes great means in mending karma.

The Muni, who owns ‘Discriminatoiy Science’, experiences\ regards the conscious strength of the soul as different from the body, and does not feel grieved by the distresses caused upon his body. The slaves of sensual enjoyments lead their lives misapprehending self­pleasure in bodily pleasures while the conquerors of the senses reside in the fragrance of Self by coming out from the stink of passions.