Lord Mahavira Vol 01

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 61

52
Lord Mahavira should avoid the talk of women which delighteth the mind and fomenteth the passions.
Therefore, whosoever endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence should avoid the familiarity and frequent talks with women.
Therefore, whosoever endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence should avoid observing the body and limbs of women and their pleasant prattles and languishing looks.
Therefore, whosoever endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence should avoid tistening to women's cooing, hissing singing, laughing, giggling and wailing.
Therefore, whosoever endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence should avoid recollections of women's laugh, play, enjoyment, arrogance and sudden threats.
Therefore, whosoever endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence should avoid delicious food and drink which may soon rouse his passions.
For he who eateth excessively his passions abate not, like forest-fire driven by wind in a forest of fuel: this becometh not of him who endeavourth for a life of sexual abstinence.
Therefore, form not any liking for sweet words pleasing to the ears but make on this body contacts harsh and unbearable.
For objects of senses by themselves cause not indifference nor emotions, but through delusion, love or hatred, one undergoeth such change.
Thus objects of senses and of mind make them suffer who lust for them but they cause not suffering to him who lusteth not.
Therefore, they all reap pain who in thought, word or action desire body, its beauty and shape.
How can he, who lusteth for the body, ever derive any happiness from anything? He suffereth pain at the time of enjoyment, to procure which he courted trouble.
So he who lusteth for beauty cometh untimely to destruction. For being impassioned he rusheth to his death like a moth attracted by the flame.
Whosoever is of even mind towards beauty or body is free from sorrow. Though he liveth in the world, the succession of pains affect him not as water affects not the lotus leaves.