Way of Life Part 4

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

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THE WAY OF LIFE
It is not easy to come into contact with those great men who have exercised a control over their souls by means of extraordinary vows (vratas) and who have attained a divine vision by virtue of their knowledge of the scriptures and of the soul. The circumstance of meeting such men arises only on account of extraordinary good fortune.
BOTH CIRCUMSTANCE AND ENDEAVOUR ESSENTIAL • A congenial circumstance arises on account of the efficacy of the punyakarma (merit). But one can benefit from that circumstance only by virtue of one's spiritual awakening. Sometimes one may get the opportunity of meeting the Tirthankar Bhagavan himself. But if one's soul is not awakened and if one is steeped in the stupor of infatuation, one cannot attain any benefit from that opportunity. Therefore, you should get a great opportunity but you should also make the necessary endeavour to benefit from it. The endeavours should be carried out in the right direction. A man cannot put forth endeavours in the right direction even when he gets a great opportunity if his intellect is maimed or polluted. Here is an old story. Once there was a brahmin. He went to the court of an emperor. The emperor was greatly happy to see the brahmin in his court. The emperor said, “Oh noble brahmin! Ask for anything that you desire. It shall be given to you”. The brahmin said, "Your excellency ! kindly arrange to provide me with one meal a day".
Was he not a man of an inert intellect? He got the golden opportunity of being favoured by the grace of an emperor; but he did not make use of the opportunity properly. He did not put forth the endeavour of asking for a favour in the right direction. A man should possess deep thoughtfulness and intellectual incisiveness to make the right endeavour.
HOW TO KNOW WHETHER ONE IS ENLIGHTENED OR NOT
You must know the character and personality of the person who has undertaken a great vow. You must know what the