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The path to spiritual enhancement
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but not the feet. They both cannot traverse the same distance. The eyes may embrace the distant mountain peak within the span of a second and the mind may be tempted to reach there as well, but the feet cannot keep up with their swift companions. This chasm between the eyes and the feet is the dichotomy between idealism and realism. Jainism teaches us beautifully and effectively how to strike this fine balance. As long as a person is rooted in worldly life, family and community are part of his reality, as is the nation to which he belongs. He cannot consider himself an autonomous entity removed from these. Since he cannot separate himself from these, he cannot ignore their needs, nor forget them. If he did, he would lose himself as well. Such is the reality of responsibility, of life itself.
So it is that the scriptures speak of the vow of limiting one's desires (icchā parimāņa), but not of limiting one's needs (āvaśyakatā parimāņa). Necessities are a reality, not to be forgotten, not to be ignored. Verily, if something can be ignored, or forgotten, it is not a necessity, it is a desire. It is only desire which can be given up.
You must remain vigilant, because flights of imagination and ambition can lead you to believe that your desires are a necessary part of your existence. And thus a web of desires is woven, each craving to be fulfilled. You become enslaved by your desires and create a negative energy in your life. Jainism teaches us to nip in the bud those desires which grow wildly beyond our necessities. He who is content with the fulfilment of his necessities is a worthy aspirant indeed. He enriches his own life as well as that of others. On the contrary, he who is discontent and desires endlessly treats his life like a vehicle without a brake - a dangerous vehicle that will crush him as well as others.
Jainism says that the vehicle of life has to be driven, but within limits. Vigilance and control are a must if you want your journey to be peaceful and productive. Do not drive recklessly over others. If your self-interest clashes with another's, then stop to consider. Drive within your boundaries so that thousands of vehicles can move in harmony. Or else, there will be chaos.
Wherethereiscontrol, thereisvigilance, thereisdiscrimination
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