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Chapter Introduction
"Dharmaratna Prakaran" is a highly inspiring book. It states what type of attributes a religious person should have. It is easy to be considered religious but hard to be truly religious. The book indicates the characteristics of a truly religious person by which one can mould his character.
Humbleness is an essential attribute for writing such books. One, who has no softness at heart, cannot make others soft. The life of a person would be wasted, unless he cultivates humbleness and modesty. The family, where the elders and other respectable persons are not held in reverence, cannot be said to be on religious ground. In order to teach modesty, the author of the book starts with obeisance to Lord Mahaveer, who taught the importance of modesty in life, to the world.
Humbleness should arise from within. There are people, who show outward humility, but harbor deception at heart. Their intention could be to gain something at the cost of others. One should therefore be careful in dealing with such people. When someone gives undue respect and bows to us inordinately, we should become cautious and try to figure out his motive in doing so. Bowing with a selfish motive could also be a business tactic.
The author here offers obeisance to the detached Lord, the abode
