Book Title: Way of Life Part 1
Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

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Page 426
________________ 416 THE WAY OF LIFE fellow-members of his faith to get rid of their agonies. He began to spend crores of rupees for that purpose every year. He began to respect the benefaction of the Gurudev who pointed out his faults. If the Gurudev does not point out your defects who else will do that? THE ATTITUDE OF NEUTRALITY Neutrality is the name given to that state in which attachments and hatred are restrained and controlled. If attachments are strong, they cause agitation; and even hatred when it is strong, causes agitation. But there is a great difference between these two kinds of agitation. One kind is actually and openly experienced; but the other kind is not openly experienced. In the intensity of attachments, man experiences happiness; but that happiness has agitation concealed in it. How can we call it happiness, if its effect is sorrow? How can we call it a pleasure if its consequence is pain or anguish ? How can it be described as a pleasure ? BE NEUTRAL IN YOUR ATTITUDE The attitude of neutrality or apathy renders you neutral towards others. Of course, this attitude of neutrality should be adopted towards those jivas who are impolite, imperious, haughty, wilful and this attitude is reserved also for those who irritate you by their improper or harmful behaviour and who agitate you and perturb your mind. By means of a cultivation of this feeling of apathy, irritation, agitation etc., disappear. THIS ATTITUDE IS ESSENTIAL EVEN IN THE LIFE OF HOUSEHOLDERS There is no family in which all the members are polite and respectful towards the head of the family. If you are the head of the family and if someone is impolite towards you; if someone disrespects you and if someone behaves haughtily towards you, you adopt the attitude of neutrality towards them. By this means, you can keep off agitations, irritations and insinuations. Just as this attitude is of great use to you, it is also useful to Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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