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SPIRITUAL PRACTICES OF LORD MAHĀVĪRA
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lay the code of conduct of monks called sthavira. The aim of all spiritual practices is to purify the soul and destroy attachment and aversion and so it is immaterial if a person wears clothes or gives them up. Hence Lord Mahāvīra did not stress on the wearing of clothes or their being abandoned.
After some time that previous cloth discarded naturally. Once while walking on the shores of the Swarna Bālukā river, that cloth struck some thorns and due to the current in the river got separated from Lord Mahāvīra's person. He made no attempt to pick it up and let it go.
Life, as such, was a laboratory for Lord Mahāvīra. His living style was in-consistence with his spiritual practices, free from prejudices and rigidity. This kind of simplicity and flexibility is the basic requirement for spiritual progress. If a person is stern and rigid, his progress is hampered and comes to a standstill. Though the person may seem to be putting in a lot of harrd-work all his efforts go unrewarded. Like the (alce a oct) one toiling whole day and thinks that he has travelled a long distance evening, finds in the in the same place. Similarly we too are working hard day in and day out. but in the real sense we fail to acquire true happiness and perfection.
Hence it is important that the aspirant gives up obstinacy and makes his mind and self crystal clear like a river. Imkgine life to be a laboratory and when you are subjected to a novel idea, analyse its usefulness before blindly accepting it or rejecting it. If the possibilities of its being fruitful are bright, experiment it in life. If it is useful, adopt it, otherwise, give it up. Whosoever experiments in life, he alone can realize the ultimate reality. Lord Mahāvīra too weighed the pros and cons of all matters and if they proved to be beneficiary and complimented his spiritual practices, He accepted them. This attitude of Lord Mahāvīra enabled him to progress steadily on the pathway of perfection.
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