Book Title: Way of Life Part 2
Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

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Page 257
________________ DISCOURSE 41 245 praise them in their presence. At least, can you praise them in the presence of your friends or the members of your family? By praising an action, you increase its prestige. People feel attracted towards the actions that are honoured and esteemed. The eulogy of ideals plays a very important role in their propagation among people. The desire in people increases for those actions whose prestige is established and which are adored by society. It is really extraordinary on the part of a man not to do anything that is ignoble, detested and improper; and to pursue the path of spiritual elevation with unflinching determination, completely rejecting and resisting all temptations. You should certainly admire such a man. You must believe that that man is noble and cultured who cannot be dragged into evil ways by anyone and who has not committed any evil action in his life. Noble people are not condemned by society. This is the first distinguishing feature of noble people and their first characteristic quality. SELFLESS SERVICE IS THE SIGN OF NOBILITY Such noble people take delight in extending help to those who are helpless and indigent. They are always engaged in the endeavour to ameliorate the condition of such people. This is the mission of noble people. Without any selfish motives and without desiring any kind of publicity those noble men try to fill the lives of the indigent, the distressed and the miserable people with cheerfulness, happiness and peace. Those noble people give the necessaries of life to such indigent and helpless people and make them self-dependant. You may know that the fourth ordinary principle of the grihasthadharma has appeared in your life, if you can remember the noble actions of such people; if that recollection fills your heart with joy; if words of praise for them emerge from your tongue spontaneously and if you appreciate their actions whole-heartedly. From the Audience : Of course, we appreciate such actions. Maharajashri : If you appreciate those actions, it is very good. I hope you will not condemn them for some other reason such as, “That gentleman, of course, helps the poor and the Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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