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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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Religion is also deemed as six fold from the point of view of six fold restraint viz., restraint of five senses and mind. Those who control these senses and the mind realise the true reward of spiritual enterprise and destroy all fear of degradation. Jainism takes note of an attractive incident in this connection.
Monk Keshikumar descended in the lineage of Lord Parshvanath. Gautam was the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira. One day when both of them had an encounter Keshikumar asked, “How do you win over thousands of adversaries among whom you continue to stay?" Lord Gautam said, “Oh Saint, by winning over one, I win over five, by winning over five, I win over ten, by winning over ten, I win over all. Thus I win over all my adversaries."
The reply was as significant as the question.
Monk Keshikumar further asked, "Whom do you consider as your adversaries?” Gautamswami replied, "Mind unvanquished is my adversary. Unconquered senses and passions are also other adversaries. Ha ing conquered them all I move on the path as laid down by the Lords.”
The idea is : By conquering only the mind, four passions can be conquered. Thus one can conquer all the five enemies. When these five enemies are conquered, five senses automatically are within control. Thus by conquering these ten enemies all the enemies can be conquered.
Monk Keshikumar put up one more significant question, "Oh, Gautama, How is it that you are not lead astray though riding on a mischievous dreadful and adventurous horse?” Gautama replied, “Oh Saint, with the reins of scriptural commands I put my horse under check and this is the reason it does not lead me astray."
Monk Keshikumar said, "Which is that horse ?"
Gautama replied, "Indeed our mind which rambles in various worldly objects.”
From this you can make out how difficult it is to conquer mind and senses. Shri Anand-Ghanji while offering his homages to Lord Kunthunath, the 17th prophet said, “Oh Lord, Mind indeed is
