Angulimala - 19

Ahimsaka thrown into deep consternation
 

by G. K. Ananda Kumarasiri

He was certain that Ahimsaka would be killed well before collecting them. At the same time, no blame could be attributed to him for the murders.

Ahimsaka was thrown into deep consternation over Acariya Disapamok's shocking Guru Dakshina. He was torn on the one hand between his duty as a student and gratitude to this teacher for all he had imparted to him and his personal desire to learn everything possible from this renowned master, and on the other hand, his aversion to hurt a living creature let alone kill a human being! He wanted very much to serve his acariya in any way he could.

But he abhorred having to carry out such a murderous task, even though it came from no lesser person than his highly respected acariya. Early in life, he was taught by his parents, the virtues of kindness and gentleness, and above all, the sacredness of human life. Indeed, his very name "Ahimsaka" personified his life-ideal of not hurting or injuring or taking the life of another living being.

Shocked by such an outrageous demand, he explained "O' Master! How can I ever do such a cruel thing as killing innocent people? My family has never engaged in violence much less kill people. We are peace-loving, respectable, harmless people. I beg you, Respected Master, please change the Guru Daskhina?"

To be continued

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