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72
THE ART OF POSITIVE THINKING
it all over the town. Tell them you have overthrown Acharya Tulsi; I shan't contradict it!"
The man stood still, without a word. On Acharya Sri's next visit to Bhiwani, he was among the foremost of his devotees. He was also at the head of the Reception Committee to welcome him and later it was he who conducted the public meeting
When we ourselves are free from reaction, when there is no violence within us, it becomes difficult for others to indulge in violence. Even if they were previously so inclined, something holds them from proceeding as per plan.
On the other hand, if my mind is full of violence, even though I might discuss the doctrine of non-violence a hundred times so as to understand it fully, it would come to nothing. The whole attempt is doomed to failure from the very beginning.
There is only one way of establishing oneself firmly in the doctrine of non-violence-Preksha Meditation. This is practical living. If religion becomes impractical and conventional, if it is divorced from direct expericnce, it would be a lifeless thing. We do not believe in a dead, stereotyped religion. What we are after is a living religion--a religion which would resolve our present-day problems. We have nothing to do with that religion which is solely preoccupied with life after death.
"Practisc rcligion--you will not go to hell." "Practise religionyou will go to heaven, find salvation." When? In the hereafter? Your present life stands untransformed and you are talking of paradise and salvation! The individual who cannot find salvation in the present, will never find it after death. If there is salvation for man, it is here and now. One who does not properly value the present, would lose himself in the illusion of heaven and salvation, both hcaven and salvation cvcr cxisting beyond his reach. He would never be able to establish any contact with them, like thc parallel straight lines which go along side by side but never meet.
Religion aims at reforming the present, bringing about a transformation in everyday living. A very strange thing has come to pass. In the so-called religious families, men and women practise religion, visit religious places, pray and worship, but also they quarrel among themselves. Whatever evils are found in the irreligious, are also very much present in the so-called 'religious"; they arc in no way different. They seem to practise meditation, work for salvation, but at the same time, they are very much involved in petty jealousies and wrangles. If hcaven and salvation were so easy to attain, no one need transform himself
It is a vast subjcct. We might devote a whole camp-period to the consideration of non-violence which is a great power. Non-violence is a peerless light, at present beclouded; a radiant flame almost
deadened with ashics; its brilliance quite vanislicd. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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