Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 77

ASPIRANT'S GUIDE
true faith and true awakening of the self become firmly accomplished. With this, wantonness starts vanishing. Thus the control of wantonness is accomplished easily with the above efforts.
OBSTACLES IN THE CONTROL OF WANTONNESS
When a person thinks, "I am great, I am learned, no one is equal of me," and so on, he will not be able to progress spiritually in his life. Because such thinking results from false pride and lurk in his life. Success is possible only if one becomes impartial and patiently ponders over the appropriateness of such thinking. Then one will realize that in all walks of life, far greater persons have been born than oneself. This will dissipate one's pride of family, knowledge, worship, fame, body, handsomeness, wealth, youth and various similar achievements.
Thus one develops humility, a spirit of adoption of virtues, and a compassionate heart. Now wantonness will leave him. Once one abandons the path of wantonness, all vices start disappearing from within in a short time and with the rise of so many virtues, one can win supreme happiness. Rightly, therefore, it is said, "To follow the preachings of the great and pious saints is the real religion (Dharma), and it is the real austerity (Tapas)." GLORY OF CONTROL OF WANTONNESS
(1) "Man can surely win liberation by controlling wantonness. Thus, salvation has been achieved by infinite souls." So said the sacred Jain Tirthankaras.
(2) The progress in the path of salvation is directly in proportion to the degree of suppression of wantonness.
(3) If a person is led away by uncontrolled five senses and mind, he will suffer from diseases, poverty and dishonor in this life and the pains of low birth, such as animal, bird, hell, trees and so on in the life hereafter.
(4) Let a person follow the preachings of a noble preceptor to enhance his fitness to be firmly established on the path of liberation.
(5) To abandon bad habits, to take no interest in useless and trivial matters, to give up bad deeds with conscious efforts, to keep the mind engaged in feelings, speech, and deeds that will
SADHAK-SATHI
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