Philosophy of Soul and Matter

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Center

Page 39

vision and one without. At the sight of what some people call an ending or “death,” the wise person feels no insecurity because he perceives the cycle of eternity in each process of change. Those without vision, like the inexperienced child, see everything as coming to an end. "Let me enjoy everything right now, they say, "for when I am gone, it is for good, and all will be buried in a graveyard.” Those who harbor such . fears of finality are not at peace.
As long as we have the concept of "All is lost!" so long shall we have sadness and tears. Rather than create sadness when a person departs, let us see in this light: when a person has gone, he or she may have gone from your eyes, from your circle, but not from the universe. The person has gone from the form, but not from the essence. When we understand the philosophy, we enlarge our vision and say: "What is lost? Only the form. A gold ornament may be broken or melted down, but the gold is safe. A new ornament can be made out of it; only its form will be different!"
Let us realize that we are all on a sojourn to complete, fulfill, or undo something. We are all on a mission. It is an experience, not an intellectual lesson. Feel deeply within you that a loved one who is no