Jaina Gazette 1927

Author(s): J L Jaini, Ajitprasad
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office

Page 25

10
THE JAINA GAZETTE
high trees thousands of flying foxes (frint-bat. Pteropus madenus) are suspended. They have evidently selected the spot as a residence, because they are aware that the Jainas, in pursuance of one of the chief tenets of their religion, do not harm any animals." (Dr. Hultzseh). When one looks at the Bastis and the high Manasthambhas of Mudibidri, one cannot but admire at the Jainas of Tuluva who could in the name of religion produce such enduring monuments of their munificence and such astonishing works of architecture.
B. A. S.
CONCENTRATION.*
CON
ONCENTRATION means centering the thoughts on one subject. We are concentrating our thoughts upon some subject every day, but when we concentrate the thoughts upon some spiritual subject we are concentrating in the right way. This is our ancient study.
We must centralize the thoughts on one subject in order to think, and the nature of this depends on our desires and intentions. All of us do for a short time at least concentrate our attention on something, on desires of the lower nature or of the higher. In any kind of concentration it is always the case that our thoughts cannot be kept in the same condition at all times; they are drawn away from the central object, and there are so many distracting influences all around us that we cannot keep our thoughts on one point. The mental state is like a central force having a point like the centre of a circle, and circumference and area depend on the kind of force which is used. Suppose a man of ordinary strength is trying to exercise the power of thought. Now when he is disturbed, all his thoughts run in different directions. When any person is thinking on one central point there are many other things with which he is surrounded; the central mentality is attacked on all sides. and is divided between all these different objects and cannot be exercised on the one thing which is very important
Being the substance of a lecture delivered in America by the late Mr. V. R. Gandhi,