________________
CONDUCT
C11- Living Values
This is a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our anger and pain. By forgiving someone, we are putting the Tirthankars' message into action and we are advancing our souls on the path to liberation. We need to forgive in order to reduce our passions and follow the footsteps of the Tirthankars. Recommended reading from Jain Story Section - Chandkaushik 03 Ego (Pride)/Humility (Vinay) According to Jain philosophy, Ego (Mäna) has no place in our lives. Pride makes every great achievement useless, in that no one appreciates a proud person. Only someone that is humble and modest is liked and has his/her achievements recognized. People lose respect for you when you are constantly discussing yourself. Only by showing interest in others, and less in yourself, can you maintain successful relationships. Pride is what keeps us from realizing our true souls, which keeps us from attaining Moksha. A Buddhist monk once said, "Enlightenment can come only after humility - the wisdom of realizing one's own ignorance, insignificance and lowliness, without which one cannot see the truth." Our scriptures say that without humility, the right knowledge, the right faith, and the right conduct cannot be obtained. Only through humility can we realize our true achievements on the path to liberation. Humility is easily achieved if one stays away from the following eight types of Ego:
Pride of Knowledge Pride of Worship Pride of Family Pride of Race Pride of Power Pride of Excellent Attainment Pride of Austerity
Pride of Body If we give up these eight types of pride, we can live a life of humility that will be reflected in everything we do. We become considerate of others, and we speak only looking out for the well-being of others, rather than with a hidden agenda of our own. Without the virtue of humility, the path to liberation seems long and faraway. Unity, peace, and prosperity increase when we show humility towards all life forms. Popular sayings like "Pride comes before a fall", "One who bows is liked by all", show that ego and pride are vices appreciated by no one. In contrast, humility is welcomed everywhere as a great virtue. Just as trees rich in fruits hang low to provide fruit to the passerby and monsoon clouds full of water come down towards earth as rain, we should develop a natural tendency for benevolence. Whatever great work we may accomplish will be undone if we are full of ego and pride about our achievements. Recommended reading from Jain Story Section - Bahubali 04 Deceit/Honesty (Straightforwardness) Straightforwardness (Honesty) is one of the fundamental qualities of the soul. However, when we get carried away by the lure of money and luxuries or ignorance, we began to follow the path of deceitful conduct, rather than the path to liberation. Just because no one can read our thoughts, it does not mean we can lie to others and cheat them for our own well-being. Once we create a world of lies and cheating, it is almost impossible to come out of it. There are always stories circulating of people in high-paying positions that cheat the government on their taxes. Once they are caught, they lose everything, and are often imprisoned. If they were just honest from the beginning, they would be enjoying more than ever; however, their deceit brings them to misery.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 195 of 398
