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Mahavira & Conquest of Mind / 81
1. Master Mind
The mind of man is fickle. He wants to fulfil all his desires which is as impossible as filling a sieve with water. It is very difficult to remove the acute thorns of perversion from the mind. Relinquish all inauspicious thoughts from the mind and let auspicious thoughts flow in from all directions. Just as a monkey cannot remain still even for a single moment so also the mind cannot remain free from evil thoughts even for a single moment. As the mind of man is unfathomable, it is difficult to apprehend it. When the mind becomes stable like the water of a clear pond, then the reflection of the soul can be seen in it. Restraint of mind is perfected when it is free from inauspicious thoughts and full of auspicious thoughts. An ascetic is one who has complete mastery over his mind. Unstable mind is controlled and held captive by the chain of knowledge. Only when the mind is under control, can attachment and aversion which are the causes of worldly sufferings be destroyed. By the teachings of Lord Mahavira, we can bring a new world order, free from exploitation, disparity and a dual standard.
