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be balanced, one has to be in tune like the sitar. That is the art of fasting.
By silence, we mean not only speech, but silence in thought also. Sometimes thoughts speak louder than language. They can create a riot inside. To bring silence in thoughts is the greatest art.
And then meditation is used to reach that state in which you know who is dwelling in this body. Who is seeing through these eyes? Who hears with these ears? Who smells with this nose? Who tastes with this tongue? Who touches with hand? Who knows with these senses and this mind? To know who knows is meditation. Meditation is not a temporary comfort. It is to reach the last point-to know who knows.
So from the age of 30 to 42 years Mahavira worked in this inner laboratory. And then after enlightenment for 30 years he shared his thoughts, his feelings, his experiences of reverence for life his insights, because that was his joy, the pure unpolluted bliss. In the world of the senses and all the possessions, we want to enjoy inner wealth, but when you have this wealth, you want to share it. There is no possessiveness.
Reverence for Life
Mahavira's first teaching was reverence for life. If you have reverence for the Indweller, you will have reverence for all life. Otherwise, for the sake of need and greed, man will fight, kill, and exploit. Ultimately
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