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SPIRITUAL-SCIENTIFIC PERSONALITY / 249
When Acharyaji finished his Great advice, there was a pin drop silence; it looked to me as though the confluence of heavens concurred with the sagical message. This command shook me for the first time in my sixty-eight years of life. It had since then become a challenge for me and the motto of my life.
On this day of celebration of 75th year of Jain Acharya Mahapragyaji entering the monkhood, I would like to give my respects by reciting one kural (couplet) from my favourite Thamiz classic composed over 2200 years ago by Thiruvalluvar. The Saint Poet has devoted one full chapter of 10 kurals out of 1330 kurals to penance. It means:
“With the power of ascetisim, if one discards the attachment to ones own life and I the 'ahankar' in him, then all lives in the universe will bow before him."
How true, in 21st century, we see a walking and saintly example in H.H. Acharya Mahapragyaji. I join the lives in the universe to pay my reverence and respect to him.
My Greetings to all of you.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
18th February, 2005 www.presidentofindia.nic.in
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