Science Of Life

Author(s): U S Dugar
Publisher: U S Dugar

Page 81

sensory attachments are no exception. Happiness derived from a combination of the senses and sense objects is always a cause of distress. And therefore they are subject to many sufferings or many ailments.
Mahavira said, "One who swims along with the current of the worldly life is entangled in the cycle of birth and death. One who swims against it, get liberated. The unprotected and unrestrained soul wanders aimlessly in the worldly sojourn; the careful and restrained soul is liberated from all miseries. Knowing this, protect yourself by controlling the senses." Happiness and misery arise from sense perception and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed. In as much as happiness depends to a large extent on ability to negotiate adversities or misfortune. Human beings have potential to master circumstances instead of being a slave to them. Life acquired meaning only through the odds it overcome.
The body needs comfort, but to subordinate the body of excess ease and comfort is detrimental. The desire for comfort and luxury conceal courage. When we are comfortable there is no longer a motivation to seek, learn and grow. Our soul still yearns to explore but our body is no longer motivated. Human energy multiplies when translated into action and becomes dormant when kept at a stand-still. Bodily austerity refers to a personal endeavour of discipline and striving for perfection in the journey to awakening accompanying suffering and pain. It is training the body to tolerate with patience and equanimity, difficult and hard situations in life, by putting it through severe endurance tests. An important key to perfecting the body is to create physical tension to relieve one of
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