________________
of his being. He came to see the whole country as his monastery. For him, this was creativity in action. His elated feeling was contagious, and he made a kind of intimate contact with the souls of his listeners. They felt he was speaking to them gently as their friend, as a friend to all life.
In the years in which Munishree studied Sanskrit and Prakrit grammar with a sage from Benares, most of his walking journeys with his father and guru were in the area between Pālitānä and Cambay. In Cambay, he was asked to talk to the young people who were apathetic and irreverent toward their religious heritage. The elder Jains became filled with wonder as they watched a positive change take place in their sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters, within the space of one evening. He spoke these words to them:
“Namaste to you, young men and women, charioteers of ardent youthfulness! Yes, do you know what you are and what you hold in your hands? You command the ocean of youth! At its bottom, immense jewels of life are shining, waiting for you to discover them. Will you dive in? You won't get those riches by yawning and daydreaming by the shore. To fetch them you have to dive into the fathomless deep. Do you have the courage to do it?
"You are so vigorous, strong, and daring! Of course you have the courage to take the plunge. What will happen when that youthful vigor of yours wanes? Then you won't be able to reach the treasure even if you want to. The dreams of the timid and weak are never realized. I entreat you to take the challenge because now you are strong. The moment is now. This is the unique time. This moment is fleeting. It will never return.
“The flowers of today's blossoming youth wither on the morrow. Buoyant steps of today will feel heavy tomorrow. Stand up, my friends, today, even now, and mobilize all your energies towards some definite aim in your life.
"Indulgent living is not natural. It is artificial. Luxury is not real happiness. It holds only sorrow and worry in store. Lust is like bait to deceive you and lead you into the valley of death.
“The strength of a disciplined life lies in its ability to point
150
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
