________________
370
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
If so, evidently Give us this day our daily bread,' does not mean that they should put themselves in the begging mood, they should ask for material prosperity; it does not mean that. That prayer moans that everybody, let him be a prince, a king, a monarch, anybody, he is to look upon all these things around him, all the wealth and plenty, all the riches, all the beautiful and attractive objects as not his, as not belonging to him, as God's, God's ; not mine, not mine. That does not mean begging, but that means renouncing. Look here. Give us this day our daily bread.' That does not mean begging and asking, but it means rather renouncing and giving up; giving up: renouncing unto God : that was the meaning of that. You know how unreasonable it is on the part of a king to offer that prayer, Give us this day, etc., if it be taken in its ordinary sense. How unreasonable? It becomes reasonable enough when the king, while he is offering that prayer, puts himself in the mood where all the jewels in his house, the house itself, all these he renounces, as it were, he gives them up, as it were, he disclaims them. He breaks his connections with them, so to say, and he stands apart from them. He is the monk of monks. He says this is God's; this table, everything lying upon the table is His; not mine; I do not possess anything. Anything that comes, comes from my beloved One. He realizes it that way. And if you take the meaning of Give me this day, etc.,' as explained just now by Rama, then you will find it consistent with
Man shall not live by bread alone.' Then you will find it consistent with it; otherwise inconsistent."
It is, thus, obvious that to the illumined sage prayer is a meaningless term. Who is there beside his own Self to pray to? Whose help to ask? Who can help the Lord of the Universe ? Who but your own Self could have helped you in your love affairs in the dreamland? You have created your surroundings yourself ; if they are not what they should be, you must change them yourself. There is absolutely no good in weeping or wailing. Even when you say that God helps you, he only helps you from within yourself. The help really comes from your own soul, though you erroneously as
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org