Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

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GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
the tree". It is a part of nature, and if you can have sufficient number of mangoes that have fallen to the ground, let us take them only and not cut the tree." Some think this to be the symbol of laziness, but it is not. It is teaching the saving of life. It also teaches not to sacrifice too much for a limited purpose. If you have an object in view the means resorted to acquire it ought to commensurate with the end. It also measures the index of violence in your mind."
So the whole-picture symbolizes the truth that the ordinary man of the world thinks he will not be cut-off from life at once, satisfies himself by enjoying the sensuous pleasures, derived from the senses, and does not care to receive the truths offered by true philosophy; he being influenced by sentiments of anger, vanity, deceit and greediness represented by the four serpents."I was quite astonished with this explanation of the picture and this is the view of life taken by the Hindus: I was not eight years old then. Twenty years later (only a few months ago), I read one of Prof. Max Muller's works and was more astonished to see that he also expressed himself in very nearly the same terms. Here are his words:-"Our idea of life on earth has always been that of a struggle for existence a struggle for power and dominion, for wealth and enjoyment. These are the ideas which dominate the history of all nations whose history is known to us." Indian thought is contrary to this.
So beautifully explained drama of life!
Measure the index of violence within you
It will be seen from the foregoing remarks that the ideal of the Jain philosophy is the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual perfection and Six Leshyas / Auras
(after death or rebirths if necessary) attainment of perfect spiritual individuality, which does not disappear, is not dissolved, is not merged into a Supreme Being, is not a state of unconsciousness, but persists forever and consists of perfected consciousness and highest rectitude. This being the goal of every living being life in every form is highly respected by the Jains.
There is another symbolic story of the Jains, and that is of the mango tree and six persons. They were members of the same club. They wanted to taste the mango fruit, and went to a mango grove. They approached a certain tree, and one said: "There are very beautiful and very delicious mangoes on this tree, and we must cut down the tree." Another said: "We don't want all the mangoes, let us cut the principal branch. And another said: "Let us take a smaller "branch." And another "We don't want even so many, we will take one minor branch that will be enough for us." The last said: "We don't even want so many, what is the use of destroying or cutting
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