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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
to be regarded as its misuse. Only if we remain engaged in doing good to others according to our ability, it can be said that this reflection of impermanence has rightly permeated our lives. It is so because having known the impermanent as impermanent one desirous of attaining the permanent, that is, the pure nature of the soul should walk steadily on the path of righteousness, which consists of doing good to one's own self as well as to others.
Though the physical things necessary for the sustenance of the body and maintenance of life are impermanent and give pleasure mixed with misery, to secure them regularly till the end of life is inevitable. It is clear that we cannot do without them, life is impossible without them. So, we should secure or earn those things in a just and honest way and use them without any feeling of attachment. To advise us to this effect is also the purpose of this reflection. To commit suicide is prohibited.
Those who see permanence in the realm of impermanence suffer from perverse attitude. Those under delusion consider the persons and objects as permanent. But there is nothing in the world which is permanent except the pure soul with infinite knowledge.
(2) Reflection on helplessness (aśaraņa) This reflection uproots the passion of pride. Man proudly thinks, "I am a king, a sovereign, a protector of the people, a savior of the whole world, a matchless rich person, a great master, a mighty man, my supporters and followers are many, none can do any harm to me." Such a feeling of pride is improper and wrong, because none is saved from the powerful and inescapable claws of death, nor can anyone save others from them. In the presence of death, the supreme enemy of all embodied souls, everything becomes powerless; all objects of pleasure, vehicles, palaces, women, army, magical charms, medicines, wealth and prowess-all these become useless. The sons are no protection, neither father, nor the relatives, nor friends; for one overcome by death, there is no protection among kinsmen. Man alone has to suffer from the pains of acute diseases, none can share them, even the dearest person cannot mitigate them. Is this small or negligible helplessness? This reflection is to be used to reduce and uproot the feeling of pride. It is not to be used to shun compassion, friendliness and benevolent acts and thus to become utterly selfish and self-centred. Though it is a fact that we cannot cure others of their incurable diseases or protect them from formidable calamities, yet it is also a fact
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