Lord Mahavira Vol 02

SR No.: 023277
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 244
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 137

128
Lord Mahâvîra
all his strength, bodily and mental, into his efforts. I did well to stress the greater need in current teaching for the putting forth in man's religious quest. Affirmation as to his nature was not enough. But man as now in a Less, well become man More (let alone a Most) only when effort can be constructive, not destructive. My company were willing welfare, but to what extent we concentrated on tapas we were training the will in a Less. This we did not see. We were exercising will in a worse.
'After teaching a few years I had many followers. Two of these I held in high worth Gautama, a Brahmin, with whom I had myself been a learner, and Maskari called Gosala (of the cowstall). These were true helpers, seeing a More in me as I saw in them men in a More. They too were in favour of Tapas but not in excess. They accepted the teaching of the Imanence, holding that man had in himself the highest welfare, and the will to win it.
'Remember that when I say 'will', I bear in mind that our word for it was manas We used it as you use will Its meaning was the word citta', it was purpose, which is mind and will in one. Striving with mans this is all man can do as yet.
I held women in high worth. They were with me in my teaching from the first. I was a married man and had children though none save one daughter grew up. The worthy woman I met were honouring the will in our company to make effort in becoming the New-surely this is ever woman's experience. I arranged that they of my company who willed to do so should make tours. But not women; that did happen, but only later. We toured around Vaisali and met many who approved of our object. It was men in the world to whom I looked; I did not seek to make men leave the world. It was my wish to see them coming to will a More in their daily life and business. My very will was in his, wothing man at his trade, his field work, his care for the less fortunate, his warding the sick, his seeing the child, his seeing the More in his fellow man than he seemed to be, his will in the man To Be.
Morever, I had heed to man in the unseen. I could be aware of such myself It was from the unseen that I was mandated to teach the New I was one day meditating on these things and I was hesitating, lest the teaching of the More in man might be undermined by disapproving in one respect. Then I seemed to