________________
272
THE WAY OF SHOWING DEVOTION
Giving proper food, clothes, medicines and other necessaries to sadhus and noble householders who possess outstanding intelligence; receiving them with honour when they come to your house; washing their feet with pure water; rendering service to them day and night when they are in sickness; and abiding by their commands and instructions are the ways in which devotion must be shown.
THE WAY OF LIFE
These acts of devotion are external. The feeling of honour is internal. Do you know what kind of honour you must show to such people? If you happen to come upon the gem called Chintamani, your heart leaps with joy and jubilation. (the Chintamani can grant all wishes). You would begin to dance with delight if Kamadhenu (the heavenly cow that grants all wishes) were to step into your house. You must experience a greater delight than this when men of enlightenment and intellectual excellence happen to come to your doors. You must think tha enlightened spiritual heads are more useful than the Chintamani and that they are more adorable and lovable than the Kamaghat (the heavenly vessel that grants wishes) and the Kamadhenu (the heavenly cow).
You naturally admire and adore such people. You will not have to make any endeavour to honour them.
From the Audience: On the contrary, sometimes we feel jealous of grihasthas who are men of intelligence.
WHO CAN ACQUIRE EXCELLENT INTELLIGENCE?
Maharajashri: Then you give up the idea of acquiring intelligence. The man who deems himself a genius and others unintelligent can never admire intelligent men. He keeps condemning them. Those who deem themselves intelligent cannot solve their own domestic problems and such people condemn and calumniate men who possess the highest kind of intelligence. Such people can never attain incisive intelligence. The author says. 'भब्वाण णिउण बुद्धी जायति' (Bhavvana
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
