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DISCOURSE 95
himself from his attachments. The author expounds one such method namely a sensible contemplation on death.
Some people in order to get rid of their fears of death and to free themselves from anxieties relating to death try to find out when death approaches them. They try to find out this secret by means of astrology or some miraculous powers but probably this endeavour may not be successful. That is so because at present our span of life is (sopakram). It means that if there is some powerful push given to life, a span of one hundred years comes down to twenty years by some accident. If you spend one rupee a day, one hundred rupees will last one hundred days; but if you keep spending ten rupees a day, one hundred rupees will last only ten days. The same principle applies to the span of human life also. So life is uncertain and the time of death is unknown. The span of life may end any moment and death can occur.
How can the span of human life get
From the Audience:
exhausted or spent?
309
Maharajashri
The span of human life is spent by breathing in and by breathing out air. If the jivatma carries out this activity with speed and intensity the span of human life will be spent soon. If the jivatma carries out this activity of respiration slowly and if the frequency is reduced, the expenditure of the span of life will be less. Therefore, you should not engage yourselves in such physical and mental activities as increase the frequency and intensity of breathing.
Jain Education International
From this point of view, the span of life is uncertain and the time of death is uncertain. On account of the uncertainty of these two things, life also is uncertain. Life can end any moment. Therefore, as long as you are living, you must carry out endeavours to attain spiritual progress and elevation. We cannot be sure of the span of our life. We cannot be sure of our existence even for a moment. Therefore, whatever noble actions you desire to do, do them now, at once. Carry them out this very moment if you can. Realise the value of every moment of your life.
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