Way of Life Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 24

THE WAY OF LIFE
Whether one is young or old; educated or uneducated and stupid, one should not be haughty and obstinate. Obduracy is not at all desirable. One should attain and retain the worthiness of listening to and benefiting from the advice of well-wishers. "I will not care for anyone's advice; and all should listen to me and act upon my advice". This kind of mentality is extremely harmful. The man who desires to enter the sphere of dharma; and to attain spiritual purification by accepting the doctrines of Dhar
arma, must discard his obstinacy and pride. That means, he must destroy his inner enemy, pride. This inner enemy should be nipped in the bud; otherwise, it will cause inordinate anguish. It will push man into the abysm of spiritual ruin.
Like pride, arrogance also is a dreadful inner enemy. A man blinded by arrogance, grows proud of some speciality of his. Not only this; he commits aggression on others also. If he is born in a higher caste, he grows proud of his caste; and he treats with contempt those who belong to a so called low caste. Sometimes, he even attacks them. He abuses them; beats them; and even kills them. In this manner, if he grows arrogant about anything, he will show these two reactions; Conceit and Contempt. Bhagwan Umaswathiji has rightly said;
जात्यादिमदोन्मत्तः पिशाचवद् भवति दु:खितश्वेह ।
जात्यादिहीनतां परभवे च निःसंशयं लभते ॥" The Jiva who is maddened by any pride like pride of caste, lineage etc. will experience anguish like a ghost; and undoubtedly, he will be born at a low level of lineage etc. in the other world.
THE STORY OF A GHOST
Once, there was a Seth. By means of magic, he acquired control over a spirit. The spirit had in its previous state belonged to the Devayoni (to the Janma of a heavenly being); but even gods are of various classes and levels. The spirit belonged to a low level of gods. The spirit became pleased with the Seth; and was carrying out every order