Book Title: Jainism and Democracy
Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: I A S S Jain Conference New Delhi

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Page 40
________________ RIGHT ATTITUDE 27 illuminating the path, without moving himself, belongs to this type. It is mere scholarship without life. There are five perversions of attitude obstructing. the way to righteousness. As a matter of fact, they are mental weaknesses. 1. The perversion of attaching secondary importance to righteousness (ābhigrāhic). Many persons adopt the path of righteousness for some other ulterior motive. To adopt a principle to please an influential. person, for wealth, for fame or for any other motive except the principle in itself is a perversion of this. category. Religious system have adopted the mathod of inducement in their propagation. They pointed out the future pleasure of heaven and this world as the result of their renunciation in this life. The person was promised hundreds of beautiful damsels as the result of celibacy in this life. A drunkard was promised a heaven where fountains of wine are flowing. These inducements divert the attention of the aspirant from the supreme values to lower desires. Similarly to adopt political life not as a career of service to the nation but with a view to occupying chairs, gethering influence or with some other ulterior motive is a perversion of this type. 2. The perversion (abhiniveshic). To follow a path merely to satisfy an egoistic temperament. A person knows that the path adopted by him is wrong. Yet he sticks to it because any change hurts his sense of pride. This perversion is common among religious preachers in high positions who continue the same preaching Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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