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RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT AND MENTAL PEACE Y
Dt. 03-01-1980
meditate in peace as some unknown force disturbed his mind. To the best of his memory, he had not committed any sin by word, thought or deed. On inquiry, he learnt that his wife had taken a few cakes of dried cowdung from their neighbour without obtaining permission to meet the shortage in their house. The businessman asked his wife to seek an apology from the owner and when this was carried out, he could regain his power of concentration.
It is often found that a person is unable to concentrate his mind on any obiect even for a few minutes. This may be directly attributable to the nonobservance of the rules of righteous conduct and his apathy to abide by the scriptural injunctions. One of the essential codes is to refrain from misappropriating another man's property to meet one's own needs. It is tantamount to theft, reacting on the culprit and causing mental disorder affecting his health. Honesty in all dealings should be the ideal which should guide our daily activities. The pernicious effects of dishonesty are so contagious that they will disturb the mind resulting in agony and creating obstacles on the path of peaceful life.
The story, the Jain Muni pointed out, had a message to the present generation where rules are being observed more in their breach than in practice. Householders should implicitly obey the rules prescribed in scriptures to enable them to lead a clean life.
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Gaining knowledge is a greater Penance
as compared to Fasting.
To illustrate this, Muni Rajyashvijayaji in a discourse in Parshvanath Temple (Mint) cited the instance of a Punia Shravaka businessman and an ardent follower of Bhagawan Mahavira, who scrupulously adhered to the scriptural rules. He meditated for 48 minutes daily (as per the religious directives) without any break, in the midst of his business activities. His income was meagre but he was contented. On one occasion, he could not
Pride is the greatest curse
in a person's life.
