________________
THE CANVAS OF LIFE IS LARGER
THAN THE 'SELF
Possessiveness resides not in objects, but in thoughts. It is an impulse, an impure state of internal consciousness. When consciousness brands external objects with the labels of desire and attachment, with the labels of yours and mine, they be
come objects of possessiveness, not otherwise.
Tn Lord Mahāvīra's reflections, non-possessiveness found
Las much importance as non-violence. Wherever he has spoken about abstinence from violence, he has propogated abstinence from possessiveness as well. Primarily violence is committed only for possessions, therefore, non-possessiveness is the sādhanā that complements non-violence.
What is possessiveness? Our instant response to this question is that if wealth, clothes, property, family and our bodies are possessions, then possessing all of these is possessiveness. The obvious question that follows is: If all of these objects lead to possessiveness, then how can one renounce them and still continue to live? For example, even though our body is a possession, can we renounce it and continue to live?
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