Comtemporary Jain Legends

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 84

Learned is respected everywhere: He made this phrase fulfilled by his wide-spread, brilliant, learned, all-inclusive and experience-tested speeches and it is because of these reasons that his meetings were over-crowed by not only Jains but also with Hindus, Mohammedan, Sikhs, Young and old, men and women. Everybody had something to learn and achieve from his lectures.
His Teachings:
He used to pray this: Oh Lord! I want to rise. I desire continuously to proceed to achieve my goal of progress in all direction. Oh Lord! Grant me such devotion that I may not go down or turn back, I may not be attracted by the worldly temptations. How fortunate I shall be, Oh Lord! If you rescue me! I have known your form and established it into my heart. I consider my heart to be your temple. Muttering of spiritual phrases and hymns: This is vital in the lives of great man. Whenever they are tired of worldly problems and their mind experiences agony, only the god's name gives them peace. Even in serious troubles, they got relief by muttering and remembering
god's name. This leads them to the way out. Whenever a man understands the essence of godly phrases Siddho Hum, Shuddho Hun, Anant Gnanadi Gun Samruddho Hum-and repeats them with concentrated mind, he realizes his unlimited internal powers and this gives him inexpressible pleasure. Repetition of godly names invokes the progress of the self, it increases the self-power and confidence and this completely developed soul is itself the God.
Education: Man is a bunch of unending enormous power but several layers of worldly vices and impurities cover up this power. To enlighten this power by removing those layers is the ultimate aim of education. Very few parents understand this and they hold the education to be only a tool to make money. This is a great blunder. Very experienced teachers are required to pour in good impressions in the tender minds of growing children. Penance: This is a kind of fire in which all impurities burns out and the soul comes out as bright as pure gold. Penance is, therefore, of prime importance. Those who go through penance have their speech very effective and holy. A penanceful mendicant must not and will never tell a lie or speak ungraceful words. His speech is like drops of nectar and fearful animals become fearless by hearing his words. A mendicant always keeps his tongue under total control and therefore, his speech is holy and effective. Untouchability: Every religion teaches to consider one another as brothers. Every man is our brother and the word and brother means an assistant. In this way a Shudra a low caste man is also your assistant and you are also his assistant. Low caste people are the pillars of society. They are bottom-stones of a palace and if these are not strong, the society will be doomed, the culture will be nowhere. Remember that these low caste people are also children of Hindu community. Do not hate them or insult them. Love them, sympathize them. Determination: Does determination bears the power to eradicate miseries? Yes, certainly. Determination has unlimited power. It removes agony and then there is not rise of any more miseries. The development of one's own power of determination is real spiritual development it creates effect on non-living things of nature also. If you add your power to your determination, it does bring you success and eagerness of soul to do more work. Nature certainly helps for fulfilling the determination made with total sincerity. You must be free from pride and seek shelter of Almighty to achieve success.