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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
19. WISDOM
OH YOU WISE PEOPLE!
Contemplation is connected with the intellect while wisdom is connected with intelligence. Viveka or wisdom has been defined as the power of distinguishing between what is fit to be accepted and what deserves to be rejected. With the eye of wisdom, we can understand what should be done and what should not be done. एको हि चक्षुरमलः सहजो विवेकः ॥
Eko hi chaksurmalah sahajo vivekah. “Wisdom is the only natural and pure eye.”
In fact, like the preceptor wisdom enables us to distinguish between what is to be done and what is not to be done in a situation. Moreover, it is wisdom that enables us to derive true benefit from the shastras. Swāmi Satyabhakta has defined wisdom thus, "What is good ? What is evil? What doctrines bring welfare to the whole world? Wisdom enables us how to answer these questions and it is indeed the very life of all shastras."
It is likely that pride and delusion obstruct the eye of wisdom. On account of pride we are likely to slight the doctrines of others. Delusion makes us "frogs in the well.” Such people will not be impartial and will not have the courage of conviction to declare their opinions as the great Jain Acharya Haribhadra Soori did. पक्षपातो न मे वीरे
' èq: #fifaq युक्तिमद्वचनं यस्य
तस्य कार्यः परिग्रहः ॥
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