________________
Bhagawan Mahavir ]
[ 325
There is no effect without a cause. At the same time, we do not know which of our effort will be instrumental in ending the said Upasarga. Therefore, the best method is to follow the way trodden by the Tirthankaras and other great souls, without leaving the virtues of self-control and patience at the same time. Thus we can keep ourselves aloof from the whirlpool of misfortunes and rich our goal of self-realization most easily. There is no living being in this world who has not tasted the bitter fruit of calamities and misfortunes. All are subject to them more or less. Why should, then, we alone be impatient ? Karmas can be ended only by experiencing their consequences. But if we foolishly lose our patience at that time, we cause grief to others besides putting ourselves in trouble. It would be far better if we take courage and try to console others. We cannot avoid our fate, wherever we may conceal ourselves. The difference between a wise man and a fool in this world is that while the wise man endures the old age, diseases, Upasargas and death most patiently thinking them to be the fruits of his own Karnias, the fool tries to avoid them and thus increases the intensity of their attack. It is, therefore, rightly said that:
Death, Oldage and Misfortunes to all do come, the wise bear them patiently but the fools succumb.
To leave patience and to depend upon others is to be raore miserable, for there can be no greater misery in this world than to depend upon others, to fall at the feet of others and to have any expectations from others.
It is folly to think that the Karmas done in pervious lives can be destroyed without experiencing their fruit, or
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
