Book Title: Family and Nation
Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya, A P J Abdulkalam
Publisher: Harper Publications India

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Page 149
________________ THE BIRTH OF A BEAUTIFUL HOME 135 they will have their ten different modes of thinking and varying styles of working. Their emotions and emotional intensities may also be of various types. A family is all about living amicably in such a diverse environment and coexisting peacefully. We are happy with who we are. We respect others by accepting their race, religion, culture, opinions, hobbies or other interests as valuable to them. As we develop and express our various talents, we enrich each other's lives. Variety brings connectivity to the family. An important principle of identity or oneness is love. It may be illustrated by a tree having many fruits. One of the fruits of the tree of love is humility and another is gratitude. These two fruits are the reverential gifts of the younger members of the family to the elders. Another fruit of the tree is affection. This is a gift that the elders in the family give to the younger ones. It is only in a family where the younger members have a deep feeling of humility and gratitude towards the older members that the aged get honour and respect. In such an environment of mutual humility, gratitude and affection, a person lives a life of joy. On the other hand, life becomes a burden in a family bereft of these values, and ultimately the sweetness of life evaporates. The seed of a family is the feeling of mineness (mamatva). Without it, a family does not come into existence, or even if it does, it doesn't last long. We all belong to a family. Our family bonds gives us our identity, a way to recognize ourselves with a culture and heritage of our own. We support each other, depend on each other, respect each other and comfort each other. We are also members of larger families our community, the human family, and the family of life on Earth. We accept the responsibilities of being a part of these families, only receiving what we need so that others may have their share, and helping to strengthen the family through our service. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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