________________
inevitable. Therefore, the need is for such pleasures that may be derived internally within the spirit and which may be permanent. The pleasure derived from service is one such pleasure that springs from within and hence, it is independent of any external means and is everlasting as well. The taste of such internal pleasure results in slowing down of the pursuit of sensory pleasures and insatiable desires; the intensity of attachment is reduced and eventually it perishes. Also, it results in release from sensory pleasure and the vicious cycle of desires. Thus, service is the practical way of achieving freedom from attachment and desire for sensory pleasures and hence it is an activity oriented spiritual practice. When attachment diminishes it generates a feeling of peace and calmness. This feeling of peace and calmness is a kind of internal rest and repose. It is a natural rule that rest and repose increase the power and service results in increase in internal powers, which is nothing but the power of consciousness. The increase in the power of consciousness is indicative of the progress of the conscious living being. The development of the power of consciousness of a living being effects the development of its vitality, which manifests itself in the form of the gaining of various increasing vitalities and in that of increase in vital powers.
Another difference between the pleasure derived from sensory enjoyments and that derived from rendering service is that one is always engaged in getting and perpetuating those physical means which give one such sensory enjoyments while it is not so in the case of pleasure to be derived from the acts of rendering service to the needy: one never feels that to give one more pleasure the numbers of the needy must swell and that more and more people or creatures must become miserable so that they can be served and more pleasure derived. On the contrary. one always wishes that there might be no misery in the world so that the need for serving the miserable may not arise at all.
The heart of the person rendering service is always filled with purity and righteousness, because his heart is always devoid of any selfishness. His happiness does not depend on the worldly means or
40
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
Positive Non-Violence
www.jainelibrary.org
