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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
47
Passions and desires distract even the soul that has reached the cleventh level of perfection and if the Soulju (Wally, they can crag it down to the first level. Hence we should always be wary. Deed is better than worl. Practice is better than precept. People should emulate the example of those whose actions are righteous. To achieve progress, right action is necessary not propaganda.
No one can leap suddenly to the peaks of spiritual progress. We have to ascend to those heights step by step with the inspiration given by lofty ideals. A sadlaka or one who is in the pursuit of perfection says, "Oh Lord, make me selfless, and detached like you” and with that letermination he proceeds on his way to perfection. It is said, that elevated contemplation brings emanicipation from Samsar hy destroying the cycle of birth and death.
In his previous life Shalibhadra was the son of a poor mother. She begged the necessaries from neighbours and prepared Khir (a sweet dish of milk, rice, jaggery etc.,) to satisfy his desire. Having poured the dish into a plate, the mother went to fetch water. The boy thought that if by chance a holy man came, he should give him some "Khir” and then he should take the remaining part. Fortunately, a holy man came. The boy gave away all the dish to him happily. The result was in his next birth as Shalibhadra, he attained great prosperity.
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