________________
146
THE WAY OF LIFE
self-confidence. Once, he happened to go out of the city for a walk. He saw a cobra. He was not afraid of it. He went straight towards it; and sat near it. The snake also probably understood his attitude and contracting its hood, coiling its body, lay quiet near him.
A friend of Nietzsche stood at a distance watching this sequence. Nietzsche went to him and said, "Today I have discovered a great truth about life"
The friend asked him in a jocular tone, "Did you get it from the snake?”
"Yes. I got it from the snake”. The cobra contracted its body and hood and lay quiet and motionless since it had no courage. It contracted its body and hood as much as it could; so, its field of contact became very limited ?"
"What do you want to say?" the friend asked him.
"I want to say only this. Man should develop his strength and courage; otherwise his mind will contract and shrivel”.
From the Audience : Only very few people in this world possess this kind of courage.
Maharajashri : But you too can become men of courage and strength. Why do you think that you cannot become courageous and strong. You too endeavour to increase your strength and courage. Without strength and courage, you cannot pursue even the Dharmapurushartha. Carrying out some ordinary spiritual activity is one thing but carrying out Dharmapurushartha is another thing. If Anupama Devi, the wife of Tejpal, the supreme military commander of Gujarat did not possess courage and determination she could not have remained alone on Mount Abu and could not have got those magnificent Jin temples built there. Only her younger brother was with her. If Pethad Shah, the Chief Minister of Malwa did not possess courage and determination he could not have got such magnificent Jin temples built in Deogiri. If King Chandravathansak did not possess courage, he could not have remained in the Kayotsarg meditation throughout the night. If
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
