Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 93

not to the path we try to show them, we should maintain a serenity of the mind that is bound to bring contentment in its wake.
When a tiny pebble is dropped into the still waters of a pool, soon it is filled with ripples. It is in the very nature of water to break into ripples. But when the pool is frozen, even if you drop a handful of pebbles in it, there is hardly any disturbance in its smooth, hard surface.
The mind reacts to circumstances by breaking into ripples of disturbance-one would say it is but natural. Perhaps; but is it inevitable: When the mind is trained to resist stoically all outward disturbances, it will acquire a calm that nothing can ruffle.
I hope I have succeeded in making it clear that these four principles, put in' action, guarantee the highest degree of happiness and peace, within the whole brotherhood of all living beings. I wish they would be universally adopted and followed for the benefit of all living beings.
This, then, is the basis of Jain philosophy in a nutshell.
• It is a philosophy which can be practised by a follower of any religion.
It is indeed very difficult to distil the elusive essence of religion so as to use it in your daily life,
84