SUTRA

There was a sthavira (senior monk) old by age, yet knowledgeable, wise and learned. He was also initiated since many years. His name was gargacharya.  He made the following reflections (anupeyha)

1) He who rides a vehicle crosses a wilderness and the one who rides as it were (vehicle) religious exercise, crosses the samsara. But he who puts bad bullocks before his vehicle he will be tired of admonishing them, and his will lose his patience. The bad bullock will bite its mate in his tail, or it may wound the other, or it may leave the path fall off, jump, become obstinate, attack, break the yoke, become unruly, or run at full speed, and indulge in such several antics, Similarly are the experiences of the seniors with some of the pupils, when yoked with them.

They may break down due to want of zeal, averse to begging, afraid of insults, argumentative, make objections, point out imaginative difficulties, frequently disobeys his superiors, stroll about wherever they like, act like the servants of the rich and influential.

Now this driver of such a vehicle, Gargacharya who had to deal with such bad bullocks (pupils) was disheartened. Thus he left them, and he himself practiced sever penances, meditation,  lead a virtuous life and crossed the samsara.

Moral: One should remain in equanimity and think of the welfare of one’s own soul as the ultimate goal.