Awakening

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 93

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there is more of water and less of slime. In the same manner, the beings that wander about in the world, sink into it, if in their lives, there is more of sin and less of merit. On the contrary, the beings in whose life there is more of merit and less of sin gradually cross the ocean of life. The Jain Dharma preaches this lofty sense of merit and sin.
Pride increases sins hence, the Jain Dharma has given the great principle of hunuility as a cardina virtue. Humility is the enemy of pride. Humility results from proper education. The branches of a mango tree bend down when there are fruits on them but the branches of a palm tree shoot up when fruits appear on these trees. The mango is sweet but the palm is intoxicating. Humility is sweet but pride is intoxicating. The fruit emerges from the seed and the seed emerges from the fruit. In the same manner, politeness emerges from education and education results from humility. The Gurudev or the preceptor teaches the secrets of the shastras only to humble and obedient and disciples. He does not teach arrogant disciples. The arrogant disciples think that they are great scholars. This self-complacency checks their progress. Those arrogant disciples do not like to learn and no teacher likes to teach them,