Jain Center of America NY 2005 06 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center of America NY
Publisher: USA Jain Center America NY

Page 37

Jan Education
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 (surrender to Almighty).
Thus, so far as human life is concerned, it is endowed both with the demonic as well as divine traits of living and is further endowed with discriminative intellect to keep former tendencies under its complete control by developing the later virtues in one's own life day by day. The choice is thus left to us to make or mar our life by following either of these traits in our daily life. Our choice for the former will make us, two-legged animals and a choice for the later will make us Narayana from Nar, meaning a living God upon the earth.
'Look within' and 'discriminate rightly' is the only way out to conquer the demon in us with the aid of the Divine, which is our real nature. The questioner himself is the answerer in this inquiry of the Self and if he is sincere and truthful, the answer is bound to be correct provided the mind does not take resort to its defence mechanism. Such a correct answer is bound to lift you up even from its grassroot level and by scrupulously adhering to the same, one can easily realise the SELF (ATMAN)which is eagerly awaiting to take us in its lap and shower its Bliss on us.
But unfortunately, we are today so much pre-occupied with our activities in the outer world of objects and beings that we hardly find any time to 'look within' and 'discriminate rightly' in the great rush of events of our hurried life from the womb to the tomb.
We have no great ideal to live upon nor do we ever think of any higher goal to be achieved in this short span of our life. We are all living a routine mechanical life as others live in the society around us. A great ideal or a higher goal is a prerequisite for treading on the path of spirituality. It is only with the help of this torch-light that we can dive deep into our bosom and have a victory over the demonic tendencies in us.
This process of introspection or say 'looking within' should start from our childhood and must continue till we breathe the last. A lapse even for a moment is likely to cause great harm not only to us but to all around us. We have, therefore, to be always vigilant to ourselves and allow not the demonic tendencies to raise their hoods even when the situation so demands. This is possible only when we have developed a capacity to observe every thought arising at every moment in our mind and to discriminate it rightly.
The Rishis of the ancient times have, therefore, divided our life span into four parts with specific duties to be performed by us in each span of
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