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this process of introspection or say observation of one's own self or say 'looking within', will then take place as naturally as inhalation and exhalation of breath takes place. It becomes natural.
Now a man is said to be a rational animal. A man thus, inherently, is an animal with all traits of animalism in him. However, he has been endowed with the gift of intellect, by which he is capable of conquering all his animalistic tendencies. It is only by 'looking within' that he can trace these tendencies in himself and make an attempt to overcome the same. Not only that he will find the Divinity shining in himself which has been temporarily enveloped by the demonic tendencies in him. It is thus the privilege of man and not of animal to look within' and discriminate between the demonic and the divine traits in his bosom and see that the latter has an upper hand over the former. No animal is endowed with this capacity to discriminate berween the Now a man is fair and the foul. Nature thus has blessed us with the power of discrimination between the right and the wrong or true and the false. It is thus for us to wield this said to be a power at every moment of life by 'looking within' and act rightly in all our transac
rational tions of life, both inner and outer.
Now a look at the animal kingdom will reveal to us that each species of animals animal. A man has only one or the-other animalistic tendency to harm others and not the congregation of all such traits e.g. a tiger is known for his thirst for blood of other animals; a th serpent is known for giving poisonous sting to other beings, donkeys are known for
is an animal giving kicks to others by hinder legs; dogs are known for their unnecessary barking when they are in a crowd; a fox is known for its cunningness; a monkey is well known with all traits of for its mischievousness and sheeps are known for their blind following without any discrimination. Now if we have developed an art of 'looking within', we will animalism in undoubtedly find all the aforesaid traits of all the above-stated animals in our own
bim bosoms, always ready to raise their hoods as and when the occasion arises. All these traits are the outcome of the demonic tendencies broadly classified by our great Rishis in six groups as our deadly enemies, such as Kama (passion), Krodh (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), Mada (ego) and Matsar (envy), which all the time are playing a game of hide and seek every moment in the secret chambers of our heart. Unless we are fully aware of the same and are fully alert to check them before they raise their hoods, it is quite likely that we may come under their sway to become a prey to them and lose the battle of life. 'Look within' and 'discriminate rightly' is the only remedy to save ourselves from the outburst of our demonic traits out to annihilate us and the society around us.
When we are constantly watching our bosom, we shall at the same time find that the very same bosom is full of Divine virtues like love, goodness, mercy etc. which are generally missing in the animal kingdom. These virtues can be well developed by adhering to Satya (truth), Ahimsa (non-violence), Asteya (honesty), Brahmcharya (control over senses), Aparigriha (nonpossessiveness), Saucha (purity), Santosh (contentment), Tapa (austerity), Swadhayay (self-study) and Ishwar Pranidhana (surren
Extending Jain Herit
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