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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
166
money by foul means and consequently he will be fearless. Fear makes us shudder and experience anxiety. On account of sear, our face grows dreary and dull and our strength is sapped
Philosophers have mentioned four causes of fear. They are : 1. Lack of strength, 2. The Mohaniya Karma called fear, 3. Terrifying sights, 4. Recollection of the factors that cause fear.
A man who is courageous is fearless but a coward always experiences the anguish of fear. Therefore, all must try to acquire the qualities of strength, courage and selfconfidence.
On account of the Mohaniya Karma fear appears. This fear can be dispelled only by means of Tapasya (Performing an austerity). Various kinds of austerities are described in shāstras. Those are described in the shāstras not to enhance the glogry of the shastras but to help common people to attain strength, courage and spiritual excellence by performing them.
People shake with fear when they see wild animals like lions, bears, cobras etc. The very sight of them fills them with mortal dread. Those who are caught in the grip of fear at the sight of such terrible creatures cannot think of a way to get rid of that fear because their mental faculties are paralysed by fear.
It is nothing but foolishness to shudder at imagined fears. There is no sense in thus experiencing fear. In fact, present fears are less than horrible imaginings. It is not proper or sensible to shudder at imagined objects of danger.
These four causes of fear are described in the Sthananga Sutra. In the same sūtra, elsewhere. there is a des
of seven kinds of fear. Fear is of seven kinds. They are : 1. Ihalokabhaya or fear that one's present life may be spoilt. 2. Paralokabhaya : fear that the next life mav be spoi't. 3. Adanabhaya : fear relating to loss, theft, robbery, plunder, dissensions.
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