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Teachings of Mahāvīra
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its origin in delusion. Karma is the root of birth and death.1 Misery ceases with the absence of delusion, delusion with the absence of desire, desire with the absence of greed, and greed with the absence of property.2 Rich and delicious food should not particularly be preferred, for it generally makes men overstrong, and desires rush upon the strong.3
The mind of those who always live in unfrequented lodge ings, who eat poor food, and who subdue their senses, will not be attached by passions which are vanquished as disease is by medicine.4
A monk engaged in penance should not allow himself to watch the shape, beauty, coquetry, laughter, prattle, gestures, and glances of women nor retain a recollection of them in his mind.5 Not to look at women, nor to long for praise, and think of them, is the high ideal of all noble souls and is always wholesome to those who delight in chastity. Those who possess the three Guptis cannot be disturbed by the well-adorned goddesses." To a man who longs for libcration, who is afraid of Samsāra and lives according to the law, nothing in the world offers so many difficulties as women who delight the mind of the ignorant.8 To those who have overcome the attachment of women all other attachments will offer no difficulties. From the desire for pleasure arises the misery of the whole world. The dispassionate will put an end to whatever misery of the mind and body there is.10 A monk who is engaged in austerities and who longs for righteousness should not fix his thoughts on the pleasant objects of the senses. Il
He who is passionately fond of colours will come to
1. Ullarā, XXXII, 7. 2. Ibid, 8. 3. Ibid, 10. 4. Ibid, 12. 5. Ibid, 14. 6. Ibid, 16. 7. Ibid, 16. S. Ibid, 17. 9. Ibid, is. 10. Ibid, 19. II. Ibid, 21.
