Day 254 The Story of Cintamani

Day 254 The Story of Cintamani

A Lesson in True Renunciation

A Man's Quest for the Celestial Jewel

The Brahmana (Cudala, disguised) began telling King Sikhidhvaja a story about a man who had both wealth and wisdom but lacked self-awareness. This man, clever and ambitious, desired the celestial jewel known as Cintamani, a legendary stone believed to fulfill all desires. Driven by his intense effort, the jewel appeared before him in a surprisingly short time.

However, despite the jewel being within his reach, the man’s prolonged struggle and suffering caused doubt to cloud his mind. He mused, “Is this truly the Cintamani? How could I, a mere mortal with little austerity, attain this so soon? Surely, it must be an illusion.” In his uncertainty, he hesitated to touch the jewel. As a result, the precious stone disappeared before his eyes.

The Consequences of Doubt and Delusion

Though the jewel had vanished, the man did not abandon his quest. He continued his austerities, determined to acquire the Cintamani. Soon after, a piece of glass was thrown before him by the celestials. Deluded, the man mistook it for the jewel he had been seeking. Confident that it would fulfill all his desires, he gave up everything—his wealth, family, and home—and retreated into the forest.

There, his delusion led to immense suffering. He endured great hardships, even more than before, because of his foolishness. The Brahmana remarked that foolishness causes more suffering than calamities like old age and death, as it blinds individuals to truth and peace.

The Story of the Foolish Elephant

The Brahmana then shared another story, comparing it to Sikhidhvaja’s journey. In the Vindhya forests, there was a powerful elephant with immense strength and sharp tusks. However, it was imprisoned in a cage by its rider, who controlled it with a goad, causing the elephant great pain.

After struggling for three days, the elephant broke free from its cage. But as it was escaping, the rider climbed a tree and threw himself onto the elephant to subdue it once more. The rider missed and fell before the elephant. Out of pity, the elephant spared the rider, allowing him to live.

Though the elephant escaped, the rider, unscathed, was determined to recapture it. He eventually lured the elephant into a pit, entrapping it once again. The elephant, having failed to eliminate its enemy when given the chance, was captured and returned to its previous suffering.

The Moral: Foolishness and Bondage

The Brahmana explained that the elephant’s failure to act decisively led to its bondage. It had the opportunity to free itself completely but fell back into suffering because of its hesitation. Just like the elephant, foolishness binds individuals who fail to act when the opportunity for liberation arises.

The True Significance of the Stories

Sikhidhvaja, eager to understand the deeper meaning of the stories, asked the Brahmana to explain.

The Brahmana revealed that the man seeking the Cintamani was a reflection of Sikhidhvaja himself. Despite having knowledge and abandoning his kingdom, the king still held onto his egosense. The Cintamani represented total renunciation, which ends all sorrow and brings ultimate peace. Although Sikhidhvaja had renounced his worldly possessions and kingdom, he had not fully renounced his ego and attachment to thought.

The Brahmana further explained that renunciation isn’t just about giving up external possessions. True renunciation is the abandonment of the mind’s movements—its thoughts, worries, and desires. Only when the mind is completely still, free from agitation, can one experience the bliss of total renunciation.

The Illusion of Renunciation

The Brahmana continued, pointing out that when Sikhidhvaja failed to embrace true renunciation, the spirit of renunciation left him, just as the Cintamani disappeared from the man’s grasp. Instead, Sikhidhvaja replaced it with austerities and self-inflicted hardships, mistaking them for spiritual progress.

He fell into the delusion that the ascetic life, with its challenges of cold, heat, and suffering, was the path to freedom. But in reality, this life only brought more bondage. The king thought he had gained the Cintamani, but in truth, he had not even found a piece of crystal.

Key Takeaways: The Essence of True Renunciation

  1. Doubt Blocks Fulfillment: Like the man who doubted the Cintamani and missed the opportunity for liberation, doubt and hesitation can prevent individuals from embracing true wisdom and freedom.

  2. Foolishness Leads to Suffering: Whether it is the man who mistook glass for a precious jewel or the elephant that failed to act when it had the chance, foolishness binds individuals to unnecessary suffering.

  3. True Renunciation is Internal: Renouncing worldly possessions is not enough. True freedom comes from the renunciation of the mind’s thoughts and desires. When the mind is completely still, one attains the bliss of self-realization.

  4. Ascetic Life Isn't the Path to Freedom: The hardships of ascetic life—like enduring cold, heat, and discomfort—do not lead to enlightenment if they are pursued without true renunciation of the ego and the mind’s movements.

The Brahmana concluded by urging Sikhidhvaja to realize that his attachment to austerities and external renunciation was preventing him from experiencing true liberation. Just as the Cintamani symbolizes total renunciation, only by abandoning the mind’s agitation can one attain the infinite consciousness and freedom from all sorrow.

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