________________
DISCOURSE 53
admiring them, treating them with love and regard. Tapascharya (a spiritual austerity) also is a special virtue. May we hope that you honour men of spiritual attainments ? If you honour Tapasvis, their number keeps increasing. If you admire a virtue and honour a man who has that virtue, it keeps spreading to others; and thus others also acquire that virtue. During this age two virtues and two kinds of men of virtue are specially honoured. If men of benevolence and of spiritual attainments are honoured and glorified, benevolence and spirituality will increase among people.
TO DISSEMINATE VIRTUES GLORIFY MEN OF VIRTUES
One from the Congregation : Benevolence has increased; but for the sake of fame; hasn't it?
Maharajashri : The fame of benevolent men should increase; is it not so ? Do you desire that the fame of merely an affluent man or a pleasure-seeker should increase? Do you desire that the fame and name of benevolent men should not increase ? Of course, if you are a man of benevolence, you should not desire for fame. But you should not hesitate to glorify other benevolent men. Glorify heartily all benevolent men, all men who are austere and celibate and all who are men of spiritual attainments. This will increase the greatness of benevolence, nobility, purity and chastity in this world. This is the rule that we see in life. The virtue or the vice that is glorified spreads in society.
If cinema-goers stop praising cinemas; if they stop idolizing movie actors and actresses; and if they stop praising their fashions, their fashions will end; the cinema-theatres also will be closed for ever in course of time; and the craze for fashions also will end. If the number of noble men should increase, you should admire and glorify noble men. You must admire and glorify noble virtues. You must also praise a virtue which you do not possess but which you find in others. Great men must be given importance and honour in our society. The path of salvation is pursued only by men of virtues; not by men of wealth. Therefore, you must develop intimacy with noble men, you must treat them as your models; and their way of life as
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
