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INTROSPECTION AND CLARIFICATIONS
119
Question: The Jains assigning the greatesi importance to non-possession are considered rich. How is the faith in accumulation achieved out of non-possession?
Answer: When a question is asked how darkness comes out of light, nothing remains for further thinking. There is no relation at all between light and darkness. But sometimes an illusion arises and because of that illusion, such a question is asked.
The faith in non-possession never arises from the desire of possession. The Jain religion is based on the faith in nonpossession, non-violence and on the principles of anekanta. Anekanta is a principle. Non-possession is a principle. Nonviolence is a principle; to follow one or the other is another matter.
The principle of non-possession is adorable in its own high role. To reach that point involves a long journey, we should know this. A person may have just commenced his journey. He can go along and reach the destination. But to believe that he reaches the destination immediately could be a big illusion. Today, let us assume somebody starts practising religion and becomes a Jain. That he would achieve the faith of non-possession at once would be an unexpected occurrence. If this happens, if in a moment everything is accomplished, that is soon after becoming a Jain one becomes a non-possessor, then the journey on the path of religion would be too short. The journey of sadhana is not s short that whenever one desires and dreams about sadhana, he reaches perfection. Then there is no need to do anything, I do not understand how this misunderstanding is nurtured and maintained?
The Jain society continues to accept the principle that nonpossession is its ideal and goal, and it has to be achieved through effort. For a hermit, this is the right goal. He is a non-possessor, he gives up everything. But for the society, non-possession is a matter of principle, it is not of rendezvous. Keeping the ideal of non-possession in view, the society accepts the limitation of wants as a small vow. It starts keeping a check on wants bit by bit. The want which is experienced is controlled and is curtailed as much as possible continuously. In this way, one will proceed in the direction of limiting desires. In due course, the process will gather
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