________________
DISCOURSE 24
417
us. We are Sadhus, yet without neutrality we too cannot have peace of mind. This attitude is essential in our lives, every day and every moment. You may be a great scholar, you may be erudite yet you cannot have peace of mind without this attitude of neutrality. Upadhyay Shri Vinayvijayji has made this point clear in his work Shanthasudharas.
" स्फुरति चेतसि भावनया विना
न विदुषामपि शान्तसुधा रस:।" Scholarship is one thing but assimilation is another. The scholarship which is devoid of a proper assimilation cannot give us inner felicity and inner serenity. Scholarship is mainly related to the intellect; but assimilation is related to the heart. If you have in your heart amity, love, compassion and neutrality for all beings, you will always experience serenity and felicity; and you will not have either agitations or worries. THE PATH OF ALL LOFTY EMOTIONS IS ONLY ONE
You must realise the point that there is no other way to attain peace. Apart from this, there is the need for a contemplation on and an assimilation of twelve Bhavanas (twelve lofty sentiments, such as anithya bhavana. If you think of them you will find that they supplement, support and complement the four great attitudes. Therefore, you must cultivate them every day. I will give you today a brief account of those twelve contemplations. THE TWELVE GREAT CONTEMPLATIONS
1. Anithya Bhavana (the contemplation of transcience). The relationships with the dear and near ones, splendour, wealth, grandeur, sensual pleasures, bodily health, youth, body and life itself are transitory. That means, they do not remain for ever. A union ends up in a separation. Therefore, never have relationships of a closer kind with them with attachment. Never have a deep love for sensual pleasures. Never be proud of youth or of your body. Never be infatuated with worldly life.
2. Asharan Bhavana (the contemplation of the supreme
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
