ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 368

Now such a person can not be called a scholar. A person must be honest, free from duplicity, fraud and cheating, whatever may be his position.
In Padampurana there is beautiful example of a crooked crane. Rama and Laxman were going towards in the jungle during their exile period. Rama saw a crane standing on its feet with his neck down. Rama said Laxman to see that crane in deep meditation and looked like a great ascetic. But Laxman as he was quick witted and sharp told that the crane was in search of his prey and ready to attack his meal and thus he was cheating the innocent birds. See this beautiful saying, the crooked people have something in their minds, do something different and tell totally different from their actions but the righteous persons are different whatever they think, they do and whatever they act, they tell, "manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahatmnan.
Supreme Contentment (Uttam aucha)
To be free from greed i.e. and internal insatiably or external purity is contentment. Greed breeds all sins. Greed has no limits and desire for more is insatiable and a man indulges in immoral and unethical activities for hoarding and grabbing things. Thus a greedy person commits his own downfall. Therefore one must stay away from greed.
Mahabharata says, "Greed is monstrous alligator and leads a man towards sin" (Eko lobho mahagraho lobhita papani pravartate).
There is no power on earth that can a save a greedy from his down fall (Lobha moha smavcshtam na daivam trayatre naram). Mental faculty away from avarice and greed is the right path for solace and serenity otherwise a man goes downwards decay. External purity in absence of internal purity is hollow.
Even if one takes bath in holy river Ganges, Pushkar and at famous teerth palces (religious places), it will not make him pure if he is greedy (gangasagarapushakaradishu, Sada tirtheshu Sarveshvapi Snatasyapi na jayate prayo vishudhipara).
See what Lord Krishna says about the purity of a person. One day Pandavas approached Lord Krishna and requested him to accompany them to the Ganges for a bath. In spite of repeated requests, Lord Krishna refused but on being insisted the Lord gave his hollowed gourd (Tumbi) as his representative. When the people at the Ganges came to know that this Tumbi belonged to the Lord, they touched it, prayed before it, thinking it to be Lord Krishna itself. When the Pandavas came back and told the Lord that his Tumbi had been bathed thousand times by the people. The Lord was amazed, he got cut into pieces and gave to the people to eat it but lo! Everyone felt uneasy, had vomiting and felt uneasy because its inner part of it had rotten. Now the Lord told them to realize that external bath would not make you great. Internal purity is a must. So we must be true to ourselves away from the greed, fraud and dishonesty. Internal purity is important in stead of physical embellishment, which reduces greed and inspires for righteousness.
Supreme Truth (Uttam Satya)
Truth means fearless description of what one sees, hears or feels. Once a person tells a lie, he has to utter numerous lies to support his first false statement. Such a person is afraid and his wisdom is shattered and wavering. But one who takes the true course is afraid of none. He is free from worry and is full of self-confidence. Truth should be attractive and beneficial.
Unpleasant truth for the benefit of others is good but pleasant truth for the harm of others is bad. Sometimes, when from speaking the truth, there is fear of violence, better to lie is desirable. Wherever truth appears unpleasant, it should be explained in such a way that it appears pleasant and he does not take it otherwise.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0