Way of Life Part 4

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

Page 88

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THE WAY OF LIFE
must become immersed in spiritual contemplation without being influenced by the external conditions. You must make an endeavour to understand your objective clearly. In this condition, though man is immersed in the contemplation of the supreme good, he is not carried away by the floods of worldly life. You must keep your ideals always before you and concentrate upon them and you should not lose your bearings. All the actions and all the contemplations of a great man constitute a source of inspiration to others. They inspire lofty ideals in others and impel them to achieve them”.
Carl Jung, another thinker has analysed the internal and the external aspects of the existence of people who do not possess an introvertive personality. He says, "Extrovert thinking is a proof of an undeveloped personality.” People who possess that kind of personality are easily influenced by the excitements of the external circumstances. Such people either become slaves to circumstances or they try to bring about a change in their external circumstances. They do not experience any need for spiritual contemplation; nor do they experience any need to enter the sphere of spiritual endeavours. They are always entangled in the meshes of external circumstances. They cannot think intelligently of effecting a transformation in the way of their life. For them, success means convenience and nothing more.
CONTEMPLATION IS THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE
As long as man is entangled in the snares of external circumstances, he cannot carry out spiritual contemplation. Conflicts continue to arise in external circumstances. The wheel of convenience and inconvenience keeps turning endlessly. When that is so, when can people carry out spiritual contemplations ? Without spiritual contemplation, how can people understand the greatness of vows and their efficacy ? How can people understand the necessity of the right knowledge (samyakjnan) without contemplating on the soul ?
You must lead a soul-centred existence. That means, you must treat the soul as the centre of your existence. At least.