Universal Message of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 83

Appendices 73
In his lecture on the selection of inspiring aphorisms from Jaina scriptures, Shri Dulichand Jain said, like the abovementioned sūtras yet another one refers to four types of people who are not worthy of equipping themselves with spiritual knowledge-the vain, the greedy, the quarrelsome and the deceitful.
Philanthropists are also of four types. Some talk proudly of donating but do not give anything, some donate liberally but may not utter a word about it, some contribute as well as indulge in self-praise, while some others neither speak nor part with anything.
Like a cart man who intentionally leaves the highway preferring a rugged road repents when the axle breaks, so also, the ignorant person who transgresses the path of righteousness, will regret his defaults at the time of death. Just as a snake is unable to give up its poisonous nature, so too a characterless person who may study innumerable scriptures remains unable to shed his wicked nature. Right conduct is essence of scriptures and is the Jinadharma.