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THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF EQUANIMITY
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(1) A search for equanimity and community between
creature and creature and its realization (2) Bridging with mental equanimity the two banks
of modality Equanimity flourishes on fellow-feeling, fearlessness and tolerance A man who cannot brave adversities cannot be fearless and a fearful man cannot develop fellow-feeling One incapable of standing adversities grows wild and induces fear amongst others Equanimity grows and stabilises itself on the three planes explained above
Equanimity does not grow on a single plane We may observe an individual developing his faculty of fellow-feeling more keenly or another that of fearlessness and still another that of tolerance A growth of one is inevitably followed by that of the other two Equanimity is invariably accompanied by the three faculties In fact, these three virtues together constitute equanimity 1 THE FACULTY OF FELLOW-FEELING
Kaisankarik was the greatest butcher of Rajgriha 1 Hundreds of buffaloes were killed in his abattoir every day King Shrenik offered to reward him adequately in case he relinquished this butchering
Kalsankarik declined the offer Butchering the buffaloes was less a vocation to him and more a habit Omitting to do them to death would ill-suit his ingrained habit The king was offended at this disregard of his irresestible offer He clapped Kalsankarik into a black-hole After having kept him for a day and night Shrenik submitted to Lord Mahavira
'Sire! I have made Kalsankarik give up butchering of buffaloes'
'It is hardly possible, Shrenik
'Sirel He is imprisoned into a black-hole How can he butcher buffaloes there?'
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'Awashyakchurni', il pt p 168 etc
