________________
356
THE WAY OF LIFE
believe that sensual delights are despicable deserve love and admiration. Those who consider sensual delights as harmful and who think that they should be discarded do not get immersed in them though they may enjoy them. Be careful not to be immersed in those pleasures.
ESCAPE FROM THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER JEALOUSY
Never feel jealous of anyone. Do not envy Sadhus. Do not envy Shravaks and Shravikas. Do not condemn or feel jealous of those who follow other religions. Look at all people with an eye for virtues. You will lose nothing by seeing others with an eye for merits; and you will not commit any sins by doing
$0.
Those Sadhvis and Shravikas who follow the three gems of the Jain conduct namely, right vision, right knowledge and right conduct either completely or partially, and who safeguard and maintain their chastity are worthy of love and admiration. Keep admiring and adoring the virtues of such Sadhvis and Shravikas. Do not look at their defects and faults. If you happen to see defects in them sometimes, do not think of them. Remember that seeing defects is a great cruelty. A cruel heart has been considered as unfit to carry out spiritual austerities. Do you understand what I say? Dharma cannot touch or enter a cruel and callous heart. Dharma cannot abide in a cruel heart. Discard the great sin of seeing defects. Begin to experience felicity at the sight of others' happiness and virtues. Feel happy even when you see a little happiness in others. Do not envy them; and do not scorn them.
HOW CAN YOU LOVE OTHERS WITHOUT SEEING THEIR VIRTUES?
Now-a-days, it is common to slight men of virtues; and to treat with contempt, those who are happy and prosperous. This has become a fashion. It has become common among people to think ill of happy and prosperous people and to speak harshly of them. The tendency of admiring men of virtues has come to an end. At present, value is given to those who possess
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
