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56 / Lord Mahavira
4.
Illusion
Everyone knows the acute pains of birth, old age and death; still none develops detachment from sensual pleasures. Oh! how severe is the knot of illusion. He who walks about unclad and glows lean, he who eats only once after months of rigorous fasting, is filled with deceit, will be born endless number of times. Illusion alone is enough to exterminate thousands of truths. Illusion, strong like the knots in a bamboo tree, drags the soul to hell. Greed increases on account of deceit and falsehood. Illusion is the door by which karma enters and binds the soul. Illusion is the deadliest enemy of man. Illusion causes tensions and strifes in society. A person attains emancipation only if he frees himself from the clutches of illusion. Lord Mahavira says-One who desires the welfare of himself should renounce illusion.
