Book Title: Practical Path
Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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Page 110
________________ MOKSHA. 97 easier to arrive at the exact truth. The importance of imparting the proper kind of education to little children cannot be overrated for this reason ; for while no one whose mind is stuffed with superstition and myth can possibly grasp the truth without unlearning the 'wisdom' that was hammered into his mind in his infancy--and many become too prejudiced against truth to undergo the unwinding process—he who has received the right kind of training has all the advantages which open-mindedness, freedom from bias and high intellectualism combine to put at the service of every true student of nature. No one certainly is at all likely to know the truth who allows prejudice or bigotry to obscure his intellect. Another thing to bear in mind is that knowledge and belief are two different things, and have to be distinguished from one another. Many people profess to believe in a thing, but their actions only show them to be hypocrites, for the test of belief is that it should begin to actuate one from within as far as the circumstances would permit. It is not meant that purity of conduct can be acquired all at once, but that regret is felt at each wrong step taken, and there is a longing to repair the damage done. Selfchastisement and the actual undoing of the injury inflicted upon another are the characteristics of a firm belief, while perfect faith leads to the avoidance of sinful actions altogether. The causes which interfere with the acquisition of truth may also be briefly pointed out. They are threefold in their nature, and consist in want of respect for the true deva (God), the true guru (Teacher) and the Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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