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CONVERSION OF WOMEN
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like Ananda. I can get you married to a better man.”
She replied, “I will either die or marry Ananda. There is no third alternative for me.”
The Mother said, “Why are you insulting me ?” The girl said, “If you love me you must let me do as I wish.”
The mother withdrew her objection and the girl underwent tonsure.
Then the girl presented herself before the Blessed Lord saying, “I have tonsured my head as directed by you.”
The Blessed Lord then asked her, “What do you want ? What part of his body you cherish ?” The girl said, “I am in love with his nose, I am in love with his mouth, I am in love with his ears, I am in love with his voice, I am in love with his eyes and I am in love with his gait.”
The Blessed Lord then said to the girl, “Do you know that the eyes are the home of tears, the nose is the home of dirt, the mouth is the home of spit, the ear is the home of dirt and the body is the container of dung and urine.”
“When men and women come together they procreate children. But where there is birth there is death also; where there is death there is sorrow also. My dear girl, what are you going to get by marrying Ananda. I do not know.”
The girl began to cogitate and agreed that there was no purpose in her marriage with Ananda on which she was so intent and she told the Blessed Lord accordingly.
After saluting the Blessed Lord the girl said: “Owing to ignorance I was going in pursuit of Ananda. My mind is now enlightened. I am like a sailor whose ship after a mishap has reached the other bank. I am like an unprotected aged person who has found protection. I am like the blind who has got new sight. The Blessed Lord by his wise words of advice has awakened me from my sleep.”
Blessed art thou, Prakrati, for though you are a Chandalika you will be a model for noblemen
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