Book Title: Lord Mahavira Vol 03
Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 191
________________ 182 Lord Mahavira triumphed over all the obstacles on his way to emancipation. His courage was scintillating. He realised that the soul is a torrent of boundless energy. It has limitless power and knowledge. Excitements, perplexities, worries and vacillations make it appear weak. If this veneer of delusion is wiped out, man is free to act and reach his destination. The Lord exhorted: "Awake, Awake! Always keep awake. Those who are alert to the inner voice of the soul are the paragons of excellence. They reach the height of perfection which knows no downfall. Gain ascendancy over your passions, fears, excitements and lust and then feel how prosperous and vigorous you are. Never think of distitution. Poor are those who are ignorant of their own strength and virtues which lie latent in them. If you are conscious of these, you can accelerate the momentum of the perennial flow of power in you and everyone else. Kindle your heart, and flood yourself with its illumination. You will then see for yourself what a torrent of boundless energy you are!" Fatalism The theory of fatalism was very much in vogue those days. The dust and din of this philosophgy enveloped all quarters. According it man was only a doll in the hands of fate and thus made him lethargic and lazy. The Lord flailed this theory in words like: "Man is the sole architect of his life. He is free to act. But it is also true that actions produce reactions. Each man is free to endeavour, free to sow but not to reap. Endeavour gives shapes to fate and as these are within one's control, fate becomes the individuals' own creation. If the present is lived skilfully, one's future will not be dark, Don't resign yourself to the thought that you are a doll in the hands of fate. Realise your strength, make such endeavours as form a good fate for you. Always feel that you can find your path even in the enveloping darkness of fate." Compassion and Service It was also thought then that a particular dress or other paraphernalia was essential for as life of virtue. In this context the following anecdote is instructive. A certain man had two sons. The younger of the two

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232