Sambodhi 2004 Vol 27

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 58

52
DS BAYA 'ŚREYAS'
SAMBODHI
person's psyche, he is inclined to gain material and other subtle gains, like name and fame etc., by depriving the others of their rightful gains. This can be achieved by adopting devious means only and a greedy person, per force, becomes deceitful. The greed gives rise to deceit. If the devious means adopted by the greedy succeed and he is able to secure his desired gains at the others' expense, he thinks no end of himself, feels puffed up, proud and conceited. Thus, successful deceit gives rise to conceit. If, for some reason, his devious means fail and he is deprived of his desired (though unrightfully) gains in spite of all the machinations, he becomes furious. He hees, he haws and he fumes and burns within and wishes to set everything around him on fire. The failed deceit gives rise to anger. There is, thus, a chain reaction from greed to anger, which can be easily understood by the following illustration that presents this chain graphically :
Successful machinations puff up the deceitful person and he
becomes CONCEITED
PRIDE
GREED A greedy person resorts to devious machinations to seek his undue gains by depriving others of their rightful ones.
DECEIT
Unsuccessful machinations irritate him and he becomes
ANGRY
ANGER
Illustrations : THE PASSIONAL CHAIN FROM GREED TO ANGER
We can see that there is a cause and effect relationship between the four passions and that the most potent catalyst for starting the chain reaction is GREED. We have to address our thoughts to this greatest passions (Mahākasāya, as these four are referred to in the Jaina scriptures) if we wish to do anything about breaking free of their vicious dragnet. We shall come to that later in this essay.