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Appendix XXIV
You are your own Friend
"Oh, man! You are your own friend, why do you seek the company of other friends? Control and conquer your own self. By doing so, you will gain liberation from mundane miseries and sorrows" - Ācārānga-sūtra, 1.3.3.64.
"The mind is the friend of him by whom the mind has been subdued. For him, who has not conquered his mind, it is his worst, hostile foe.” - Bhagavadgstā, VI.6.
“None can help you: help yourself; work out your won salvation” -the Buddha's last words.
“What is the essence of beings?" - Kim Tattaṁ - Gautama Indrabhūti Gañadhara's query to Lord Mahāvīra.
The Lord's reply: Uppannei vā, vigamei vā, dhuvei vā: “Everything takes birth, everything perishes, everything is permanent" - refer Holy Scriptures, Ramakrishna Math publications (p.150, article on Ācārārga-sūtra by Swami Brahmeshananda, Chennai)
Compare Nammalwar's reply to Madurakavi Alwar's (his birth anniversary was observed yesterday) query on almost identical lines (ref. Traditional hagiography of the 12 Alwars).
Yato mata, tato patha – "as many faiths so many paths!" - Bhagavāna Shri Ramakrishna.
The Union Government proposes to celebrate elaborately the 2600th birth - anniversary of Lord Mahāvīra, next year that is
* The New Indian Express, 19 April 2000
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