Way of Life Part 4

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 73

DISCOURSE 77
63
eight brothers hate Bharath? The cause was attachment. As they discarded their attachments their hatred and hostility disappeared and a feeling of equanimity appeared.
In man's life, major or minor quarrels and misunderstandings arise. Why do they arise ? They arise on account of attachments. The craving for possession or the attachment which paralyses intellectual potentialities and causes infatuation is the cause for such quarrels and hostilities. 2. Attachments destroy the quality of patience in man. On account of attachments, man loses his patience. "What will happen to me, if somebody snatches away my wealth? What will happen to me if I lose my wealth ?” Attachments cause such impatience or anxiety. 3. A man who has attachments never forgives anyone who offends him. He feels satisfied only when the offender is punished. Some wealthy people are there who when their debtors do not repay the amount due to them in time, go to courts, file cases; and collect the money due to them. They are never kind to their debtors. 4. Agitation is the other name for attachments. A man who is attached to wealth can never be free from anxieties and worries. He experiences agitation on account of his desire to acquire wealth. He experiences agitation in safeguarding his wealth. He experiences agitation on account of the fear of losing his wealth. A man who has attachment for wealth can never be calm and peaceful. We need not explore the past to find examples of such men. We can as well see the cardiograph of the present-day people who have attachment for wealth. 5. A wealthy man who has attachment for his wealth will be proud of his wealth. It is difficult to find wealthy people who are not proud of their wealth. A wealthy man is cursed with the malady of pride. If a wealthy man does not possess the right knowledge (samyagjnan) and if he is not detached even to a little extent, he tries to exercise his influence over others and to display his wealth haughtily. He will treat others with contempt. Pride always dwells with attachments.