________________
538
"By removing the mind from the devoands and impulses of the body and by mortifying the physica! man through not listening to its greed and temptations, matter may be overcome, and the Soul freed from bondage." From the time of his dikşā, Śramapa Bhagavān Mabāvīra had always directed bis mind to the destruction of his previous Karmas through the medium of various tapas (penance) and abhigrahas (vows).
5. In this world, ability to do anything can be developed by practice. Jiva is naturally habituated to take food from time immemorial. Ahāra ( taking of food ), maithuna (co-habitation ) bhaya (fear ), and parigraha ( worldly concerns )-these four kinds of samjnă ( instincts) are born with every living being. These accompany him during every future existence. Jiva takes these babits of practices of times immemorial along with him during every future birth. None requires to be taught for them. For the abolition of these well-formed habits, if some antagonistic means are devised and strictly persevered in, the evil hablts can be gradually removed, and totally abolished in the long run. Taking this view of the formation of babits, every individual, desirous of one's own wellare, holds fast to bāhya tapa (exter pal penance ) wish the object of making clear the aņābări svabhāva (the innate disvosition to remain without food ) of the Soul, and by cheerfully practising tapa he can accustom himself in happily passing his days without food. Nothing is impossible with care. ful practice.
6 Followers of several non-jain religion systems declare themselves as debilitated on the day of the break-fast although they may have partakep varieties of fruits except cereals on the day of even one day's fasting. While even during the present age, the craining for such austerities among the Jainas, comme. nous from childhood. Little Boys, and girls, seven or eight years old easily do one days fasting or some of them do two or three instalments of one day's fasting with great willingness. Also, males and females who have developed the practice with liberality, do eight-day's fasting with or without water, fifteen-day's,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org