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Teachings of Lord Mahavira
J. A. GONSALVES
I deem it a great privilege to be invited on this auspicious occasion in your midst. This is an expression of the broadness of your spiritual horizon.
You may wonder as to why I accepted this invitation. The opening sentence of one of the Books of our Holy Scripture says that God has expressed Himself and His Mind to humanity in all ages in diverse manners. This includes individuals in various countries who brought divine wisdom to people of their own lands. I do believe that the Tirthankaras, and more specially so Lord Mahavira, introduced humanity, in their own manner, to deep spiritual mysteries of life, the cultivation of which enables men to reach human perfection.
There are numerous facets in the life and teachings of Lord Mahavira which attract our attention and fill our minds with great admiration. This is due to the fact that after thirteen years of severe asceticism he attained kevala-jñāna and became a Kevalin and the Jina. He was so gripped by the new vision that he constantly endeavoured to preach the way of mokṣa through activity and self-mortification, which he did not fail to practise himself. That is why, we realise, that he was constantly on the move except the four monsoon months, staying as a rule not more than one night in a village and five in a city at a time.
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