________________
124
does not disturb their inner joy and serenity of mind. Worldly contacts and possessions are parasites, which multiply worries and disturb the serenity of mind. Unless a person is above want and mentally. and morally strong he cannot have a glimpse of peace. The novice should start his journey to the harbour of happiness by possessing less in the form of meterial objects, which are, in fact, burden to the soul. These material objects cause the fall of the inner-man. How elevating and illuminating the words of the Jain Saint Gunbhadra are, "Just see the pans of a balance. That which is loaded goes down and the lighter one rises up; similarly a person possessed of the burden of the worldly objects will go down and the fellow with few objects will rise up."
Desire and lust enter the mind and corrupt the soul through the sense-gates. These senses stupefy the soul's right perspective and correct approach. The World Teacher and founder of Jainism Lord Rishabhadeva has warned us to control our desires and subjugate our senses. We should not aim at insentient matter as our final good. In fact, we have to save ourselves from the clutches of matter. One should aim at the manifestation of one's Divine attributes lying dormant in the mundane soul.
Jesus tells us that this world is a bridge to pass on. Greedy man forgets this noble gospel of wisdom and he keeps himself busy in constructing huge mansions and repents when he has to leave all his belongings while passing on to the other world.
