________________
348
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
The reply which Jesus gave to some one, who had pointed out to him that his mother and sisters were standing out, waiting to speak to him, shows that he (Jesus) lived what he preached. He then said that only those who did the will of the Father were his relations, none else. It was in accordance with this principle that he told the disciple who wanted leave to bury his father :
·1
"Follow me and let the dead bury their dead "* (Matt. VIII, 22).
In the Gospel according to John is actually recorded an instance when Jesus addressed his mother by the undignified title of "woman" (John, XIX. 26). The Yogis say :
"The afflictions are nescience, egoism, attachment, aversion and love of life,"
Similarly, it is written in the Bhagavad Gita :
"Affection. and aversion for the objects of sense abide in the senses; let none come under the dominion of these two; they are obstructors of the path (Disc. III. 34)..........He who regards impartially lovers, friends, foes, strangers, neutrals, foreigners and relatives, also the righteous and the unrighteous, he excelleth" (Disc. VI. 9).
The love of the body is likewise a source of trouble, and an obstacle to true liberation. One must realize the Ideal, regardless of everything else. Jesus always said to every one who asked him about the means of salvation:
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matt. XVI. 24).†
"9
Only those who are willing to pursue 'Truth' at all
* Cf. "The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."Bhagavad Gita (Disc. II. 11).
† Of. "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me' (Matt. X. 38).
19
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org