Every step of life is a lesson, only if we have an eye for learning from every situation that comes our way. Param Gurudev visited the Parasdham Girnar construction site one morning. The engineers and sevaks were all discussing the site plans and onsite work.
At that time, an old bull passed from there. Everybody saw him, but they remained busy in their work. Param Gurudev’s eyes fell on him, and he noticed that the bull had some problem in his front leg. He was walking with great difficulty, and being very hefty, he was dragging his body at every step. Param Gurudev kept observing him for a few moments and then told the Param Mahasatijis who were with him, “Look at the pain on his face. Who is there to care for him or give him any affection? Who is there to look after him? Our souls have spent countless such births in the past. We have endured such terrible pain for countless lives, without any choice. The precious saiyam that we have been blessed with today is an opportunity to willingly welcome pain and destroy all our karmas. Only human birth gives us an opportunity to face karmas and destroy them with sadhana. That’s why, we must not waste a single moment of this human life and this precious saiyam life.”
Thereafter, Param Gurudev told the bhaviks who were standing nearby, “Let’s get the bull’s ear treated, it has become septic. And the poor animal will get some relief if some drinking water is arranged for him.”
Bhagwan Mahavir has said, ‘दिट्ठेहिं निव्वेयं गच्छेज्जा’. Wherever you go and whatever you see, connect it with your soul and deepen your realisation of the truth. Whatever the situation may be, Param Gurudev’s self-awareness towards his soul is so strong, that he introspects upon it and saves the lesson in his mind library. Whenever he himself is unwell or in pain, he recollects such memories which further strengthen his elevated state of sambhaav (equanimity)! He thinks of those living beings, and gives a self-command to his own mind, “Hey aatman! Accept it with sambhaav! This pain, this problem is not like the one which those voiceless animal are facing. And this pain and problem is also not going to last forever.”
May we also develop an eye to learn a lesson at every step in our life!
