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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
199
me an opportu.
has said, service to a fellow
rope. He said to the priest, "You have saved my life. You are really kind. I am extremely grateful to you." The priest said, “Kindness? Dear brother! I have not shown you any kindness. In fact, you have been kind to me. Falling into the well, you gave me an opportunity of rendering service to a fellow human being. Jesus Christ has said, 'Service to man is service to God'. Today, by taking you out of the well, I have done service to God. If you fall into the well again I shall have another opportunity of serving God.” Saying this the priest pushed him into the well again. Again he helped him to come out. The man said, “What is this? You are killing me by pushing me into the well.” Saying this, he ran away from there. Because they lack true knowledge and wisdom, people act according to the letter ignoring the spirit of their doctrines. They do not realise the real implication of the doctrines. When a man has no natural desire to help others, he cannot be said to be enlightencd. "There is no wisdom or enlightenment in a man whose kindness or benevolence does not bring happiness to otliers."
Wisdom cnables us to distinguish good from evil. We should use our wisdom, accept what is right and use it in practical life. A man who lacks wisdom does not do anything good. He merely imitates others. He follows others without thinking.
A certain brāhmin went to Benaras. One morning he wanted to perform the ablutions and he had in his hand a copper vessel containing the holy water of the Ganga sealed in it. He buried the vessel on the bank of the river and made a small linga out of sand over it so that he might recognise the place where he had buried the vessel. When he came back, some time later, he found a large number of lingas made out of sand on the river bank. Every one who came there thought that custom required a linga to be made and made a linga and went a way. The brahmin who could not find his vessel went away weeping over the loss of his vessel. This story illustrates how people imitate others, because they lack wisdom and sense.
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