The Life of Lord Mahavira: The Afflictions and Rejection of the Divine Help, Part 1 of 4, June 30, 2019

So now, we continue with Lord Mahavira, about His practice now. "The day after His renunciation, Mahaviraleft Jnatkhand." "…He stopped under a tree, and, standing rock-still, started His meditation." "After some time, a cowherd arrived there with his oxen." "He approached the meditating Shraman and asked Lord Mahavira, 'Ascetic! Please look after my oxen, while I go into the village to milk cows. I will return soon." "On his return, when the cowherd did not find his oxen…. He searched all around throughout the night in vain. The oxen, in the meantime, returned and lay down near Mahavira. When the exhausted cowherd returned in the morning and beheld this scene…." "Without a second thought he started hitting Mahavira with the rope he carried for tying the oxen…. Even this excruciating pain did not distract Mahavira from His meditation." See that? He just bore everything because He took a vow of equanimity and compassion. I have told you, before I read this story, I don't know if anyone in the history of spiritual practice would endure so much and sacrifice so much like Lord Mahavira. What I mean is anyone, any normal one, a mortal one, apart from the Buddhas and the Saints.