________________
There are chance happenings which bring home to us the importance of the life-giving force. For example, a house fell and a person was buried under the debris. It took five to seven days to clear away the debris. And the man, when pulled out, still had life in him. He survived because his oja was secure. However, if the oja or life-force itself had been hit, his life would have instantly ended. It was just a matter of chance. Everything depended on the preservation or non-preservation of the life-force!
Q. In the opinion of some people the practice of breath
- control leads to immortality. Is there any truth in it?
Ans. Life is connected with inhalation-exhalation. In
- view of this some monks go into deep meditation for long periods. But even this practice cannot save any one from death. The use of learning and magic in this connection also does not prove effective. Some people build strong and powerful mansions for their security; others go to the mountain tops, still others cross over the ocean, but nowhere is it possible to avoid death. Disease and old age are indicative of man's utter helplessness and lack of security. In the case of the body getting ill, recourse is taken to the vaids, doctors and medicines. By these means some diseases get cured. Yet the fact remains that in spite of these facilities, many diseases are incurable. When the life-force or bio-electricity in an orgarvism gets weakened, doctors and drugs become meaningless. If, doctors and medicines could prolong life endlessly, death itself would have died.
Sometimes towards the end, a drug is administered which makes even a moribund man speak out, but its effect does not last for long. Similarly, a lot of research is being done to stall old age. However, these efforts
265
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org