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Jaina Teacher, in Humble Garb
LEONA SMITH KREMSER
Today begins where yesterday ended, a primitive mourning for the pillar fallen, that had upheld my woman's years.
-In Jaina truth, my soul is my pillar everliving, and my soul has no connection with any other. Yet time is change, harsh to this mode of existence. A living pillar falls, the empty day passes to evening, and I drag out my mourning from the desolate house.
Amethyst clouds float by without a downward glance at the wretched life-struggle at once underfoot, an earthworm in a mudhole, floundering and sinking. -Haste, unsure hand! For Jaina truth proclaims that the positive viewpoint of harmlessness is helping. And beyond doubt, the reprieved creature rejoices at my chanting of the Jaina Mahamantra.
Today ends, as I deeply ponder : “Earthworm, ye Jaina teacher, in humble garb, ye teach that all living things strive to live, and anew ye teach the valiant worth of all embodied souls.
-Thus emptiness need not fill an empty heart, and my days to come, I gladly dedicate to service to such humble and helpless ones as come my way.”
... Likewise, may all in mourning be moved upward from their black hole into the sun-bright revelation : By Jaina righteous thought, word and deed, seek ye the meaning of life in non-injury to all living things, grand or lowly.
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