I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 42

I AM MAHĀVĪRA
inequality. This point pinched my mind every time. I want that the desires should be limited. The limit should be such that there may not be any difference between selfishness and non-selfishness. It is only under this state that love and peace will be promoted. The enmity and quarrels will be over."
I thought, "The hot iron can be molded as desired. The youth-hood is like hot iron in one's life. It is this period which needs spiritual practices."
"I have very well examined the different kinds of mentality of the people. You can understand it through an illustration."
"There is a mango tree. It is loaded with many ripe and sweet mangoes. Their smell is spread over a large distance. Some six people happen to pass through that way. They want to enjoy these mangoes."
"Oh, these are very sweet mangoes. Let us cut the tree by roots and take it home. We will enjoy all these mangoes also." One of them said.
man.
"Oh, who will eat so many mangoes? Let us take only few branches of the tree, which are full of mangoes Said the second
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The third man said, "O my brother, there are no mangoes in the branches, they are there in the short branches. Hence, we should cut these short branches only and take them home."