$JES 203 First Step of Jainism Level 2 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 46

PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY!
a professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students, "How much do you think this glass weighs?"
“50 gms!" ... "100 gms!" ... "125 gms" ... the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, “but my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
"Nothing" the students said.
"Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the professor asked.
"Your arm would begin to achę," said one of the students.
***You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis and have to go to hospital for sure!" ventured another student, with which all the students laughed.
“Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor
"No."
**Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?” The students were puzzled.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students.
"Exactly!" said the professor. "Life problems are something like this. Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OR. Think of them for a long time and they begin to ache. Hold it even longer and they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything. It's important to think of the challenges (problems) in your life, but EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to 'put them down' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong and ready to handle any issue, any challenge that comes your away!"
Remember to "PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY!
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THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
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