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DISCOURSE 87
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LISTEN TO DISCOURSES AFTER DISCARDING YOUR PREJUDICES
Some people come here to hear discourses carrying with them the bundle of their prejudices. They, of course, hear discourses but they accept only what accords with their own opinions. They carry out their contemplations also on the basis of their own opinions. Such opinions cannot attain the radiance of fresh knowledge.
The great Jain Acharyas of the Jain philosophical tradition which has been in existence for countless ages studied the Vedantic philosophy, the Buddhist philosophy and even the Charavaka philosophy and contemplated on those philosophies. Why did they do so ? They also wrote voluminous works dealing with their philosophical contemplations. Why did they write those books? There should be no limitation or restriction in the sphere of philosophical contemplation and thinking. Knowledge is limitless. But, of course, the direction of your contemplation must be right and proper. Whether your contemplation is negative or positive, your point of view must be right and wholesome. A man who is caught in the iron-cage of prejudices or the single point of view cannot carry out right and wholesome contemplations. He cannot realise the supreme truth.
Mental concentration is also necessary to carry out philosophical contemplations. The nature of the human mind is to be fickle. But it is not impossible to control the mind and to make it firm. Fickleness can be discarded gradually by means of developing the habit of concentration. You should engage your mind in contemplating on matters which it likes and to like which it has been motivated. Of course, during the period of practising concentration, again and again, the mind becomes changeful but by means of continuous practice the mind acquires firmness and concentration.
You have to discard the sickly tastes of your mind. You must make your mind acquire new, healthy and pure tastes. Your mind acquires new ideas if you keep listening to dis
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