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in profit or in loss, a man is assailed by imaginary concepts. But a fact, an actual occurrence, is not an idea; it is simply a fact. It is only when memory and imagination operate upon the fact that concepts arise. This truth is also confirmed by another observation: if material goods could remove man's fear, the rich people and the public leaders would never experience anguish, as also brought out in a couplet in Preksha-Sangan:
If power, wealth, prosperity could terror dissolve, The chieftains and the rich would never suffer despair!
The more wealthy a man is, the more eminent a leader, the greater is their frustration. Affluence and power cannot remove their fright. What to speak of dissolving their fear, these eminent men cannot even enjoy good sleep. What an irony of fate!
Without taking pills they cannot sleep! These poor rich-folk with darken'd
consciousness!
Many people take pills so as to be able to sleep. Not to speak of common people, even those who take pride in being called sadhaks and boast of undertaking high austerities and penance, take recourse to intoxicating drugs to achieve mental peace. Look at the irony of common people seeking guidance from them for learning the technique of awareness, while these so-called spiritualists, instead of undertaking proper tapasya, befuddle their wits with intoxicants.
Liquor, hemp and other intoxicants lust-provoking.
They take regularly, and derive from it
some comfort;
Jain Education International
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