________________
ESSENCE AND SPIRIT OF JAINISM
It is customary with us to commence our day and our work with a brief prayer and I will do so now.
मंत्रीप्रमोदकारुण्यमाध्यस्थ्यानि।
सत्त्वगुणाधिकक्लिश्यमानाविनयेषु ।। Maitree Pramoda Karunya Madhyasthyani | Satvagunadhik-Klishyamana Avinayeshu II
The prayer just recited is a prayer offered by the Jains. I have prayed that our conduct in life may be guided by four principles:-Maitri-Amity, Pramoda-Appreciation, Karunya-Compassion and Madhyasthya-Equanimity.
Amity, Appreciation, Compassion and Equanimity—I shall endeavour to explain these tater in this talk.
Today man lives in a world which is full of strife and frustration. Commercial values keep gaining prominence. Men seem to be full of greed, envy and pride. Not only do we try to keep up with the Joneses but we try to reach out for their throats. Talk given by Poojya Shree Chitrabhanu at the Second Spiritual Summit Conference in Geneva on April 1, 1970.
33