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WHAT IS POSSESSIVENESS ?
Even if a man finds innumerable mountains of gold and silver as lofty as the great Mount Kailāśa, his desire, his thirst does not meet its end. Because desires
are like the sky - unlimited...infinite.
Tife is limited, but our desires, wants and wishes are
Ljunlimited... infinite. One cannot count the waves that rise in the sea even if one attempts to. As one wave recedes, another rises. Similarly if one wants to measure the sky, it is impossible to do so, because the sky is infinite and has no boundaries. It stretches beyond this universe, beyond the reach of imagination. Likewise, one cannot reach the end of one's desires. As one desire is fulfilled, another rises and before it is satiated the next one rears its head. Lord Mahāvīra says:
Even if a man finds innumerable mountains of gold and silver as lofty as the great Mount Kailāśa, his desire, his thirst does not meet its end. Because desires are like the sky - unlimited...infinite. 1
Needs, however, are limited and therefore easier to satisfy Man does not have to think or worry about them day and night.
suvannaruppassa u pavvayā bhave, siyā hu kelăsasamā asamkhayā narassa luddhassa na tehi kimci, iccha hu āgāsasama anamtiyā - hyayana Sutra 9.48
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