Education
Rather than Exposure
When he again visited �Morak Sannivesa' he found there
one astrologer named �Acchandaka'. He was earning his livelihood by
cheating ignorant masses by performing some magical feats. Mahavira knew
his tricks and decided to expose him. Mahavira did possess better power to
impress people with the result that people began to desert the magician,
who then went to Mahavira and told him that his presence in the village
would destroy his bread and he would be rendered homeless and his family
would starve. While on the other hand, a recluse like Mahavira, could go
anywhere. He prayed to have pity on him and his family and shift to some
other place. Mahavira realised his mistake of showing unnecessary public
spirit (which today is exhibited by many busybodies) and decided not to
exhibit his spiritual power in such a manner in future. Education rather
than exposure is the foundation of Mahavira's teaching, and it is here
that our Marxist friends would perhaps differ.
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