Guidelines to Mahavir Darshan

SR No.: 006758
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satshrutseva Sadhna Kendra
Publisher: Satshrut Seva Sadhna Kendra
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 4 MB

Page 49

40 PART IV
GUIDELINES TO MAHAVIR-DARSHAN far-hearing, flying in the sky, etc.) and if one becomes proud of these, then it is the pride of excellent attainments.
(7) Pride of Austerity:
While practising various types of penances such as fasting, muttering prayers, meditation and abandonment of taste of Rasa, if one starts feeling that he is an unequalled tapasvi and experiences a sense of loftiness in his heart, it is the pride of austerity.
(8) Pride of Body:
When various organs of the body such as eyes, ears, chin, chest, etc. are quite handsome and proportionate, and the elegance of the body is eye-catching, if with all this typical suppleness of the body one becomes proud, then this is the pride of body.
This eight-fold pride disturbs the Sadhana of the aspirant. One should therefore know fully well this eight-fold pride, abandon it in daily routines of life and resort to humility. If this is done, humility as a virtue will reveal itself in a short time.
Reward of the Propitiation of Humility:
All great men have propitiated this virtue of humility and have sung its glory. Unity, peace and prosperity grow when we show, by our behaviour, humility towards our parents and elders, pious persons, teachers and professors, learned men and scholars, munis and Acharyas, and others. Humble people win fame in the society.
Many popular sayings such as "Arrogance is the source of sin ", "One who bows is liked by all", "The pride of even Ravana went to dust"-prove that Indian culture has looked down upon pride as a vice while humility is accepted everywhere as a great virtue. As the Sadhaka progresses in his Sadhana, his vision widens, he looks upon all souls similar to his own and he loses his interest in establishing a high social status or position of power and the like. With the rise of this rational and discriminating view, he acedes to the words of saints.
"It is difficult to be known as a servant, but I am a servant of the servant! I now cherish the desire to be like the grass which gets tramped beneath the feet!"