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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Even if I jump down a height uttering the name of God, my feet will not be hurt. I am absolutely sure of it."
A friend said to him, "I Know very well that you will not be hurt even if you jump down a house uttering the name of God. I am sure of it." But the man had no faith; so he added: "I cannot believe that it is a miracle wrought by your devotion. By chance, you may not be hurt when you leap down a house. What miracle is there in it? Why do you bring in God here ? It can happen by chance." The Priest said, I have to create faith in you. You must become faithful. If I am not hurt when I jump down a house for the second time, you will develop faith "'
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"Even that may happen by chance. Many times people fail from a plane and do not die. What do you say? There is nothing great in this."
The priest was not a psychologist to find out whether the man had approached him with faith or with the purpose of merely arguing with him. Faith is the plane on which Dharma can be attained. The absence of faith makes a man averse to Dharma. There is no point in preaching to such an unfit person Why should I deliver a discoure when the people before me who sit listening to me have no desire to know the meaning of my words.
The priest ventured a third time and said, "I will go to the top of the prayer-hall for the third time and jump down the top to the ground uttering the name of God and if I am not hurt for the third time, will you believe at least then that God has power and he can save a devotee from any calamity?''
The friend said, "Dear Priest ! In that case you must surely join a circus company, because you seem to have mastered the art of jumping down any height without being hurt. I have not seen such a performance anywhere. It will be an interesting item in a circus."
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