________________
158
THE MYSTERIES OF MIND
A few years ago we were engaged in the preparation of the book now published under the title Manonušāsanam. We were discussing the method of Jaina sādhanā known as Jinakalpa. We wanted to clarify what was meant by supersensual knowledge. Ācārya Tulasi remarked, “I do not want to show dis-courtesy to those Acāryas who have opined that there have been no achievements in this field, but I must say that this opinion has done harm to the Jaina tradition by discouraging its followers so much that they became apathetic towards sādhanā.” Ācārya Tulasî was correct. When there is no effort, there can be no achievement.
A man once borrowed sixty rupees from a friend. After some time he came to pay the debt and paid his friend twenty rupees only with the remark : "I think I have paid to you the entire debt.” The friend replied : You had borrowed sixty and have paid only twenty. Forty are still due to me from you.” He also reminded the debtor that thirty and thirty made sixty. The debtor replied, “No, ten and ten make sixty. I have paid you the entire debt. I do not ind if you go on thinking that thirty and thirty make sixty. Keep your opinion with you." There is no remedy for intransigence. Let us, therefore, correct our opinions with the help of knowledge.
We have to control our body as well as our mind. The mind is always active, has many tendencies and wanders here and there. We have to control it and reduce its activities. This can be done through Kayotsarga. This process of Kājotsarga is a process of balancing our powers. Let us not decrease our energy. For this purpose we have to maintain our health so that we may remain enthusiastic in our endeavours. Mahāvīra said, “Fight with the soul. There is no use fighting with external enemies. Fight with delusion and ignorance. The opportunity for such a fight comes only seldom. Only a few can avail of this opportunity.”
The practitioner who fights with his soul with self-confidence and hope and never retraces his steps will certainly raise his consciousness to the highest level.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
