Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

Page 56

CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
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and not have any kind of artificial medicines at all. We live to know so many things even in regard to food, and how much more in regard to the mental, moral, and further on, the spiritual nature ! Take the mind in its ordinary condition, it can think on so many subjects, and may run in different directions at different times. After being fixed on one point the result is that the mind can be concentrated on one subject more easily. This may be the result either of food or of a different way of living, with regular hours of sleep, a proper amount of exercise, thinking of subjects which do not excite the mind. The general rule with regard to the development of the mental nature is that we should be compelled somehow or other to concentrate our attention on one thing. A person employed in any department of life who is not able to centre his thoughts on this department, on his duties, will be dismissed. Even in our business affairs that concentration is necessary, and if for the purpose of making a little money it is necessary that we should do this, how much more is it true in spiritual things! It is not an easy thing if money is the object, which it takes so much time and labour to accumulate; it is much more difficult to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This brings us to the science of concentration. We have to observe the physical rules and mental rules of concentration. How can we concentrate our attention ? In a sense all of us do concentrate; we only do not know that we do it. Many of us are fond of certain things and spend much time in the pursuit of those things. Those who are fond of books will always go to a book-store to see what new books have arrived and purchase and read them. Those who are fond of newspapers will wait when the newspaper comes out of the press, to secure the first copy and read it. If we can concentrate our thoughts on these subjects why should we not be able to concentrate our thoughts on the right subjects ? If our object of life is only to secure a few facts in each department, that is the right thing for us to do. If we desire to keep up with the times then we have to know all the things which are necessary for our information, and this can only be