Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

SR No.: 001190
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 266
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Ethics, & Principle
File Size: 13 MB

Page 50

CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
17 and that love is to be carried out by actually helping those who need help. The sacrifice must necessarily put an end to the growing selfishness of man and by its constant performance his mental attitude is so thoroughly changed in reference to the extemal world that the greatest anxieties and worries would not agitate him, in all the troubles and changes his mind would be perfectly calm and quiet and he will learn to interpret and understand rationally the apparent injustice and inequalities of the world.
The fourth sacrifice is to the animals. By protecting, feeding and taking care of animals we help their progress. On the ladder of evolution they occupy a lower step, but that does not justify us to destroy them. On the contrary, we owe a duty to them. They, as beasts of burden, have for ages been a constant and faithful aid to man in civilizing himself. Had it not been for the ox, the horse, the camel and the elephant, mankind would have remained at a standstill. Had it not been for the sheep and goats, you and I could not have made ourselves warm by clothing made from their wool, and still how selfish must be those men and women who simply through force of habit and custom directly encourage the killing of these creatures and use their flesh as food. Let them stop for a moment to think how ungrateful they are when they use animal flesh as food. If mankind has received so many benefits from the animal kingdom, let us return them by being kindly to them, by taking care and attending those that are suffering.
The fifth sacrifice that man has to perform is for himself - by devoting some time, energy and money for study and spiritual benefit. It is the Higher Self of an individual that has made it possible to elevate him from the archaic condition to the human condition. The gratitude which the individual owes to the Higher Self is boundless, and if he has reached the human stage which presents him with so many opportunities for unfolding its faculties, let him lose no time in making the bes! use of them. Let him devote some time every day for study. for reading. For concentration and for ihe perfect recognition !
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