Thought of the Day

Colours influence us a lot. Travel becomes tiring. Panthsama natthijara is a sukta born out of experience, though every word is relative. Good roads and greenery on both sides and the mind fills with happiness. Every colour gives light to the eyes and energy too. It refreshes the mind and heart too. On this basis a new sukta can be developed: pant-hasamam naitthi sukham: there is no pleasure like travelling.

Thought of the Day

A problem is after all a problem. All problems are not similar. Some problems are solved with the use of one's intellect, while to solve some others one can even consult with people. Internal problems are very complex and so they can not even be told to anyone. No one's advice can be taken. One has to suffer it oneself and find a solution too on one's own. How difficult that is! Only the one who suffers knows.

Thought of the Day

Emotions are good, but sometimes they can become problems too. Only today I experienced that. One man would not indulge in any quarrel or interfere in anybody's affairs and yet people would fling some accusations at him. Emotions got awakened. The eyes got filled with water. This is not repentance for one's mistake. These tears are purely emotional. Can any remedy be found for this?

Thought of the Day

The principle of relativity is very good. Not only is its theoretical aspect significant, its practical aspect is significant too. A person experiencing the principles of relativity can not be egoistic. I do not require anybody, I do not care for anybody - such kind of language sprouts on the soil of ego. One who understands the principles of relativity would never use such language. His behaviour would endear him to all.

Thought of the Day

The manifest and the unmanifest are two very meaningful words. The unmanifest is of great importance. In the practical world those with a gross perspective are many. They do not give much importance to that which is not manifest. They attach importance to that which is manifest. They value only that which they can see. However determined a person may be, in the practical world he has to heed that which is practical.

Thought of the Day

Man's body is a rare occurrence because it is very valuable :-
1. Nobody has got as developed a nervous system as he has.
2. Nobody has as developed a glandular system as he has.
3. He has got a spinal cord which no other creature possesses.
4. He has got clarity in speech and a vocal cord, the like of which nobody else has.
5. The kind of futuristic and three dimensional (in the present, past and future) thinking he can do, nobody else can do.
6. How wonderful the brain is! How wonderful the neo cortex and the reasoning mind is!

Thought of the Day

Since aeons a lot of thinking has been done on rare things. What is rarest of all? Many thinkers have answered this from different perspectives. A long list of rare things is available. In my view, the rarest thing is fearlessness. Bhartrihari wrote after serious deliberation that -'every activity undertaken with attachment is linked with fear. Only detachment is free of fear." As rare is detachment, so rare is fearlessness.

Thought of the Day

Do not do any work impulsively. The first step is taken, but before taking the second, think. A well thought out job is well executed. This has been extensively discussed in literature. Do not do any work in anger - this aspect has, however, been rarely dealt with. Actually there is not much difference between anger and impulse. Just as anger creates a certain frenzy, so does impulse. A man free from any frenzy will always work mindfully. This can be said with certainty.

Thought of the Day

Today is Gurudev's 85th birthday. The most powerful medium through which it can be celebrated is Anuvrat. The heights to which Gurudev has taken the Terapanth sect and given it self esteem is wonderful. The service he has done towards the Terapanth sect; that debt can never be repaid. That is the reason why there is happiness and bliss in everybody's heart. The Anuvrat day has become a reason to remember Acharya Tulsi. I attach a permanence with his birthday and the day of his pattotsav (enthronement), not only because of my feeling of oneness and devotion towards him, but also because of the feeling of gratitude on behalf of the organisation; a feeling that is mandatory in any sys-tematised order.

Thought of the Day

That we can not change the nature of a person by giving advice, is an age-old truth. And yet, is it true? If we look at it from the perspective of Ekanthvaad, then it is not true. But if we look at in terms of relativity, then it is true. Every word is relative. It should not be looked at in isolation or as the absolute. That advice can not change a person is eloquent of the fact that changing one's nature is not a simple job and advice alone is not sufficient.

Thought of the Day

If we write, we fill the paper. If we do not write, the paper remains blank. Is it good to fill it or leave it blank? The thinker would say it is good to fill the pages. The yogi will however say it is better to leave it blank. I do not know how useful it is to fill the blank spaces, but to keep it blank is beyond concepts of usefulness or uselessness. As a matter of fact only by remaining blank or thoughtless can we find the truth.

Thought of the Day

Desire is the defining feature of all living beings. When it links up with any sense organ, it becomes excitable and passionate. It is essential for a social being to exercise control over such excitement. It is even more important for a spiritual practitioner. A very helpful suggestion on how to control passions is given in the "Dasavekalik":
"Na me chiram dukhaminam bhavissayi
Asasya bhogapivasa jantunon
na che sarirena imena vessay
avissayi jiviyapajjven me"
When passions are aroused, the spiritual practitioner should remember it will not last till eternity. Desire rises like a wave but falls too. So, I will not succumb to the passions of desire.

Thought of the Day

It is not that people have less enthusiasm towards religion, yet the development of moral values is not taking place. The reason for this is that the spiritual leaders are not alert to the changing directions. If they could lay the same emphasis on the development of moral values as they lay on devotion, rituals, chantings and devotional hymns, then religion could be made useful to society. The question mark that is placed against religion would be answered.

Thought of the Day

There is turmoil both within and on the outside. When the day of travel nears, there is turmoil outside. What then can we say of inner turmoil when the mind is always travelling?
To be free from inner turmoil requires a lot of meditation. It is not under anybody's control to make quiet the inner turmoil. If however, one finds a guru, it is possible to minimise it.

Thought of the Day

We believe in the doctrine of karmavada and therefore do not reject the concept of destiny. Every action has many causes. When it comes to the question of success and failure, destiny plays a major role. There can be no disagreement with this. So, it is not reasonable to base your decisions only on that which is seen and not take into consideration the unseen.

Thought of the Day

That journey, the journey which never ends in a lifetime: in fact not just in one life, but in many lives to come, is known as Deeksha. The journey is towards Mahavrat (the great vows), the goals are very high and the destination very far away. To reach it is self realisation or emancipation.

Thought of the Day

To have faith is a solution as well as a problem by itself. It is a solution because the word riding on faith always gains immediate acceptance. On the basis of that the problems of an organisation and of discipline are removed and the path of development becomes clear. Those who do not have faith have to face a longer struggle. Faith is a problem because every man wants to meet the person who has faith and talk to him. Gradually respect gets superimposed by devotion.

Thought of the Day

Family, wealth, fame: are they beneficial or detrimental? The answer to this can not be given in the language of ekanta. Sometimes they become causes of benefits and sometimes causes of detriment. So the answer to this question has to be given from the perspective of Anekant or non-absolutism. Mahavira says that to the atheist these are detrimental and increase his ego. To the theist, they make him more humble.

Thought of the Day

There are many kinds of bonds, but the most dangerous amongst them is the bondage of attachment. The black bee is able to pierce through wood, but it is not able to emerge after entering the embryo of a lotus. That is why Acharya Bhikshu said that the bonds of attachment are stronger than the bonds of aversion so much so that man is not even able to recognise them. To break away from it, therefore becomes a matter very far away.

Thought of the Day

To know and to experience are not the same thing. To know, is devoid of sins. Whoever knows, wherever he knows, how much ever he knows, knowing is good. Experience which is linked with attachment is not good. To eat is one thing but to be attached to food is another. It depends on his discrimination and meditational practice that he eats to live and is not attached to what he eats.

Thought of the Day

Do you know how to read the time on the watch. If you know to do so, then your work efficiency will increase, you will achieve success. To read the watch implies knowing time management. Every job should be done at the time when it is meant to be If a job is not done at the right time then what is the use of reading the clock? Time consciousness therefore is necessary so that work keeps to time.

Thought of the Day

It is a difficult task to match time and work. Time is short, but work enormous.Everyone thinks of doing everything, but time binds him and everything does not get done.Therefore it is, that no person is able to complete his work, or even finish it within his lifetime. It is said after him that he has left so many jobs undone. But the one who meditates on the 'Nisshesham' mantra does not leave any of his work incomplete. He starts living a life which is beyond the limits of time.

Thought of the Day

It is very necessary to save oneself from external stimuli. But every thing that is necessary is not complete within itself. If one were to be constantly involved in saving oneself from external stimuli, then in just doing so we would spend all our life and never get at what we should. The whole truth of the matter is that while you save yourself from external stimuli you should also simultaneously rectify your instincts. As the material cause is rectified, there will be less talk of avoiding external stimuli. To save oneself from stimuli gives security. That can not be called spiritual practice. To rectify the material cause is spiritual practice and it is this practice that will take you to the desired goal.

Thought of the day

Today is Gurudev's 85th birthday. The most powerful medium through which it can be celebrated is Anuvrat. The heights to which Gurudev has taken the Terapanth sect and given it self esteem is wonderful. The service he has done towards the Terapanth sect; that debt can never be repaid. That is the reason why there is happiness and bliss in everybody's heart. The Anuvrat day has become a reason to remember Acharya Tulsi. I attach a permanence with his birthday and the day of his pattotsav (enthronement), not only because of my feeling of oneness and devotion towards him, but also because of the feeling of gratitude on behalf of the organisation; a feeling that is mandatory in any sys-tematised order.

Thought of the day

Austerity is very good. It is very useful in developing good health, but only that much which can assist in doing sadhana. There is a sutra from Dasahavaikalik sutra which is guiding in this matter: (Balam thamam ch pehaye sadwamarogamshpano khetham kalam ch vinanaya, tahapanam nijunjaye In long term tapa) (penance) austerity is easily practised. In long term tapa, long term austerity is not accepted. Whatever be the experience of spiritual practice, the relative viewpoint should not be forgotten.

Thought of the day

Gain and loss, happiness and unhappiness, life and death, praise and condemnation, respect and disrespect: the man who is balanced in all these five pairs is the one who can be happy.

Thought of the day

Every word is a Mantra. There is no such word that is not a Mantra. This an age-old experience and there is truth in it. The word is full of power. It can be used in many forms. If our vision is clear then even a common sentence can become a Mantra for us. All energies do not manifest with just one mantra. So in different words, one should search for different Mantras.

Thought of the day

The greatness of a guru is eulogised, but in actuality, who is a guru? It is difficult to know that. Can a man have so much excellence as to make him a guru? If that can not be possible then why is there so much praise for a guru? If that is possible then how? The one who knows the secrets of life, secrets of meditational practice, the secrets of Mantra and Vidya (learning) is a guru. If a man is not endowed with such capabilities, then can we accept him as a guru?

Thought of the day

One question is why is religion not bringing about transformations ? Why is man not changing? The answer to this is easy as well as difficult. The easy answer is that without changing the circumstances, how can religion change man? The answer is difficult because we are expecting a disabled religion to bring about transformation. Without completing the process of transformation we expect change. A religion devoid of the thoughts of morality and spirituality and only busy worshipping is a disabled religion. It is not able to influence behaviour. Without learning by heart and internalising, the role of religion can not be complete. Can we hope for transformation only through hearing and reflection?

Thought of the day

As much of this world is manifest, so many more secrets are unmanifest. Perhaps it is not right to say this. That which is manifest is less. The secrets are more, many more.
The subtle is a secret. In the world of the subtle, the gross is a small island. If man learns to dive into the sea, then the screen hiding the secrets can move.

Thought of the day

There is no perfection without prayer. It is surprising that though everybody wants siddhi , few want to do spiritual practice. Is there wisdom in looking for fruits even without sowing the seeds? If a man thinks there is a lot of problem in sowing the seeds, who will get into such problems, let me access the fruits directly, then there will be no tree, no fruit nor a market for it. Effort has to be put in to reap the fruits.

Thought of the day

That which I think, others also think and that which I do, others also do. To say that this thought is mine is to negate the past. What I am thinking some one else must have also thought in the past. Today's thoughts are found secure in the treasure-chest of ancient thinkers. From this one can understand that thoughts which are new are also old and thoughts which are old are also new. That work which is avant garde is also traditional and vice versa. The cycle of time and the cycle of movement teach one elementary lesson: do not be arrogant about your thoughts or your deeds.

Thought of the day

Development is necessary. It is a well accepted idea. Every idea of man is relative. Balanced development is required. Imbalanced development can not solve problems. The type of imbalance caused by the development of knowledge without development of humility, further deepens the problem. If you are looking for solutions then not just development, but balanced development should be kept in mind.

Thought of the day

Is ambition good or bad? We have to find an answer to this question. Without ambition, no big or good achievement is possible. So how can it be called a bad thing? Ambition gives rise to struggle. To fulfil one's ambition man even tries to put down another, then how can it be considered good? Good and bad can only be relative terms. Relativity means knowing the limits.

Thought of the day

Writing is necessary and so you write. Or if thoughts come to the mind, then you write. If writing becomes a necessity then it is bereft of thoughts. The reader should not be given just a volley of words, but should be given a thought. Words may emerge out of frivolity, but thoughts can come only when there is concentration. The thought that arises in concentration does not have the web of words but touches the real meaning. In the sea of words the pearl of meaning is hidden. To search it out should be the purpose of that which is written.

Thought of the day

What is the purpose of religion? Many philosophers have answered this question. Some have said that the purpose of religion is to maintain society. In this view point one can not see the independent existence of religion. It seems possible only through social management. The purpose of a spiritual religion is to stop the new flow of the atoms of karma and to shed the accumulated atoms of karma. The spiritual religion was overwhelmed by the social religion and therefore its original purpose has disappeared. Only its utilitarian purpose has gained popularity. To solve this problem some grave thinking is required.

Thought of the day

Is it possible that problems arise and there is no worry? The common answer would be that it is not possible. But if this were not possible then it means that practice of spiritualism is incomplete and so is Mantra Vidya. How can that treatment be complete which can not treat an illness? Solutions have been found for every problem and that is why problems are not overpowering man.

Thought of the day

What is a mistake and what is right? This is difficult to decide. There are relative values, relative assessments, relative criteria and relative notions. What one man thinks is a mistake another may believe to be true. How can a third person pass judgement on that? The one who passes judgement can not do so in absolute terms. Even he has to decide in relation to the yardstick he has in mind. It can not be said that the decision taken with the perspective of the absolute is totally correct either. Yet, pragmatically speaking, some relative yardsticks are important.

Thought of the day

In the present age there is need for that kind of religion which awakens the power of resolution and removes the contradictions between religion and behaviour. One kind of life at the religious place and another at the work place - to remove this kind of difference a religion of self restraint like Anuvrat is necessary. With rituals alone, a religion does not become glorious.

Thought of the day

Here there is no restriction on time. Anybody can come when he wants to. This situation is good and yet worth a little discussion. It is good because it satisfies the feelings of the visitors. It needs to be discussed because after all energy has its limits. Is there a middle path ? A little search will reveal time management as the solution.

Thought of the day

The world is a riddle. It is very difficult to unravel it. Every object exists in many states and no man can, in one lifetime, know it all. This world is a collection of infinite substances. When one can not know everything about one single object, then how can one know the universe in its entirety? The secret is seamless and so the search for it is continuous and constant. No man can claim to know all the secrets.

Thought of the day

Even though the shore is visible, the elephant is not able to reach it since he is stuck in quicksand. The thirst of the sense is also like quicksand. The man trapped in quicksand is seeing the outer rim of his grief but is not able to reach it. There is an art of coming out of the quicksand. The one who does not make a determined effort to come out, can be pulled out by some one from the outside. If you abate your instincts and control your activity, you have created your support and you will be able to come out of the swamp.

Thought of the day

In contemporary times, two words are highly discussed - materialism and spiritualism. The word spiritualism has been discussed from various perspectives. Any practice carried out with the soul at the centre is spiritualism -this has been ascertained from the perspective of the highest truth (evambhoota naya). The finding of contemporary times is that purity of consciousness is spiritualism, (rijusutra naya). The finding from the practical perspective is that the mind filled with qualities such as friendship is spiritualism (vyavahar naya). Spritualism is the obvious tool to find the solutions for mental and emotional problems. It is also the hidden solution to materialistic problems. When the mind is not influenced by emotions such as friendship, compassion etc., then it is difficult to find solutions to materialistic problems.

Thought of the day

Solitude is very valuable. It can be reviewed from the viewpoint of Anekant. If a person is a thinker, is creative and imaginative by nature, takes interest in developmental activities and makes plans for them, then for him solitude is useful. To a spiritual person also solitude is very useful. The quarrelsome person too finds solitude useful. The man who is free from attachment, aversion and prejudices, who has the maturity of patience and understanding and has the capacity to provide development to others, does he need solitude?

Thought of the day

What is the secret of your success ? Ponder over it. If fate brought you success, be alert Make such efforts that will nurture fate. Do not work towards creating impediments to fate. If the reason for your success is hard work, then be alert to it. Hard work fashions out the future. Excellent hard work means a bright future. Not sufficient effort means poor future. View hard work and fate together. It will pave the path to success.

Thought of the day

A wound inside and an apology outside. in this state emotions remain silent and words make a lot of noise. After one day everything returns to the same without any change.
Apology has value when there is no wound inside, it is healed. The words that can bring about such a healing become full of life. These words, full of vitality, are the ones that give birth to amity.

Thought of the day

||Arham||

There are many weapons in the world, each mightier and deadlier than the other. However none of them is the ultimate weapon. The only one which is the ultimate and can be considered par excellence is - FORGIVENESS, ARMISTICE or PEACE.

SAMVATSARI, which is the most sacred festival of Jains, is the occasion for using this ultimate weapon, viz., forgiveness. Every human has three weapons -

•  Mind

•  Speech

•  Body

Man can think of causing harm to others; he can make use of his articulation for causing harm to others; he can use his body for doing injustice to others. And people do so everyday.

The sacred message for celebrating the Festival of Samvatsari is - against whom you have used the mental weapon, ask him/her for pardon at mental level; against whom you have used the vocal weapon, ask him/her for pardon at vocal level; against whom you have used the bodily weapon, ask him/her for pardon at bodily level.

 

When you are asking for pardon at mental level, let your speech and body also accompany your mind; when you are asking for pardon at vocal level, let your mind and body also accompany your speech and when you are asking for pardon at bodily level, let your mind and speech also accompany your body.

In our life, there may arise occasions when bitterness is created due to difference of opinion, difference of interest and so on. If this bitterness is eliminated, then psychological complexities would not be formed, the tension would not become long-lasting and the mental peace would also not be lost.

Samvatsari is a spiritual festival. It is an important opportunity for evaluation of the human unity. People can benefit by utilizing this opportunity.

 

Acharya Mahapragya

 

Thought of the day

Awareness is the secret sutra of spiritual practice. The same action and yet difference in results. Alert action involves less bondage. With careless action there is greater bondage. So the reason for the same action leading to less or greater bondage is alertness or carelessness. Therefore Mahavira said, always be alert not careless. To remain alert it is necessary to resolve to be so. If the resolve is not strong then the mist of carelessness will begin to spread. The objective is to be alert and to be alert is also the resolve. Viewing the sky (Akash darshan) helps bring alertness to life.

Thought of the day

There are two ways of looking at the one who enjoys:
1. One who enjoys the fruits of his karma.
2. One who enjoys wordly pleasures.
One who enjoys the fruits of karma: This is the influence of the past. Man is not at complete freedom to change this. One who enjoys worldly pleasures: This is the influence of the present.
Both these states can be changed with spiritual practice. If the one who is enjoying the fruits of his karma, lives in the present nurturing a feeling of equality towards all, he will be following the path of spiritual practice. To rise above the enjoyment of worldly pleasures would mean following the spiritual path of conquering one's senses. If our discrimination is awakened, then we can find solutions to problems.

Thought of the day

There are innumerable rules of world management. There are innumerable rules of karma management too. We can not explain karma by knowing just any one rule. A living being is born again after death. This process is controlled by his mature Karmas in that place. The body constitution will be of this kind; his existence will be of such and such kind, his limbs will be of this kind, are controlled by the mature karma of the soul. The ministry of karma is very wide. Thousands and thousands of workers are doing their job. Their work flings surprises on the gross world.

Thought of the day

The convention of the All India Terapanth Mahila Mandal begins today. The voices of awakened women are heard from every corner of the world. Awakening is a very good thing. It is not desirable that one part of society is awakened and the other is in slumber. No chariot moves on a single wheel. Only if both the wheels are in order the chariot moves. For awakening it is necessary that the woman supports the man and the man, the woman. When support is mutual, there arises no question of the equality or inequality.

Thought of the day

Look at the soul (atma). Look inside. Your house lies within. It is very beautiful. You have seen a house in the outside, you have seen other people's houses. You think they are beautiful. That which is new today becomes old in a matter of ten or twenty years. Can they be called beautiful ? That can be called beautiful which maintains the same form at all times; even amidst flowing streams it retains its form. Beauty is both flow and consistency. Without balancing the two, beauty can not be defined nor can we enter the world within.

Thought of the day

Do you know how to write ? If you do not then do not commit the mistake of learning to write. If you do know how to write, what is the need to do so ? You do not write for yourself, you write for others. Will another be able to understand the content of your writing ? He may understand the words, but will he understand what you are trying to convey through them ? If they could grasp the meaning of the words in the true sense then the ancient texts would not have so many interpretations. There would not be endless arguments over a single sentence or a single word. Since this is happening, think before you write what should I write ? For whom am I writing ?

Thought of the day

Today is teacher's day. To be a teacher is to experience a twofold responsibility. To study is easy but to teach is difficult. Every person has his own level of comprehension. The teacher understands that which is to be taught. The student's understanding has not yet developed to that extent. In such a situation, to establish a rapport between the teacher and the student is a very complicated task. The one who is able to accomplish this complicated task is the real teacher.

Thought of the day

The world has changed a lot. Man has changed, the circumstances in which he lives have changed and even his mind has changed. The state of things as they prevailed three decades earlier, no longer prevail. If we try to account for the situations over a century, we would have a corpus of literature on changes. We make little effort to go into the past and that is why we are ignorant of changes. It is only to acquaint us with the past that we have the subjects of history and mythology. If history and mythology did not exist, then man's story will not be more than a hundred years old.

Thought of the day

The atoms of delusion keep spreading their net. One such net is desire, ambition. It influences the senses. The thus influenced senses distort the subject under consideration. A person who seeks to control his senses resolves: I will see with my eyes, but not influence my sight with emotional attachment. This resolve saves the subject from getting distorted. If the sight is leading towards distortion then I will close my eyes and look inwards. This resolve will in some time, control the senses. The Indriya Vijay Pranay-ama is also a useful tool to help control the senses.

Thought of the day

Protect your atma (soul), this is an instructive sentence. Without spiritual practice, the order can not be internalised. The first sutra for spiritual practice draw the senses inwards. When the senses are used as sources of knowledge, then they can be drawn inwards. When they succumb to attachment however, the atma can not be protected, nor can the person be protected.
Restraining and drawing inward the senses functions the same way as the blinkers which keeps a horse on track.

Thought of the day

Why are some people tall and some short? This is an ordinary question. The answer to this has to be looked for within the body constitution. The believers in karma sastra have looked for the answer in the nature of nam-karma. Doctors have looked for an answer in the source of the pituitary gland. The question is related to the gross but the answer has been sought in the subtle.
There are problems in the gross world and to find solutions to them one has to enter the world of the subtle and therefore we do not consider gross a barrier.

Thought of the day

There is strength, bliss and knowledge in our body. There are sources of strength, bliss and knowledge. When the sources are closed, then there is no development of strength, bliss or knowledge. When the source is opened, then strength awakens, bliss sprouts and inner knowledge develops. If we could isolate the source and open it, then no man would be devoid of strength, unhappy or ignorant.

Thought of the day

There are many sources of strength. One among them is the word. The sound of the word produces certain vibrations. That vibration influences the body, mind and emotions. It makes the vibrations of the emotion - filled word more powerful. The sound of the word full of emotions is called jap. When jap is done of one's Isht devta, then the devotion and the sound of the word together charge the surroundings with power. The one who does jap identifies with his Isht. Words devoid of feeling will not be able to achieve the goal.

Thought of the day

It is very easy to say something, but to do it is difficult. The reasons for this according to Karmasastra are - power of activity, elimination of, or subsiding the obstructing karma, elimination of karma particles which destroy energy. The reasons for purification of conduct are elimination of, or subsiding deluding karma, elimination of the karma particles of delusion. If there is a balance between the elimination of the obstructing karma and the deluding karma, then what is said is also done. If there is no co-ordination between the two, then the saying becomes true - easier said than done.

Thought of the day

Today is the day of silence. What irony that to define silence, man is speaking! How nice it would be if silence could be defined by silence. Just as much as man likes to talk, he does not like silence. If we go into the depths of spirituality, we find speech takes rest there. The meaning of spirituality is silence. Day to day practicality means talking. You can not speak in the deep recesses of spirituality. In day to day life you can not remain silent.

Thought of the day

It is very necessary to save oneself from external stimuli. But every thing that is necessary is not complete within itself. If one were to be constantly involved in saving oneself from external stimuli, then in just doing so we would spend all our life and never get at what we should. The whole truth of the matter is that while you save yourself from external stimuli you should also simultaneously rectify your instincts. As the material cause is rectified, there will be less talk of avoiding external stimuli. To save oneself from stimuli gives security. That can not be called spiritual practice. To rectify the material cause is spiritual practice and it is this practice that will take you to the desired goal.

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Thought of the day

What can be the adjustment between time and work? Two jobs can not be done together. There is a lot of work. One feels that time is short, but work much more. Whatever time there is, there is. When we imagine our work as being a lot, then there are two emergent feelings:
1) of being busy,
2) of shortage of time. Time has its own rules. We too should make our rules. We should not think of doing many things at the same time.

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Thought of the day

If you want to develop your virtues, then first develop a feeling of affection towards them. For whichever mood a man is engulfed in, it is in the same mood that he begins the process of his transformation. Keep a virtuous man as your ideal. Reflect on and praise his qualities. This outward act will give rise to an inner strength and you will become virtuous. The one who wants to erase vice and develop virtues will have to go through this exercise.

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Thought of the day

What are difficulties? It is not easy to define. What appears as trouble to one man, may appear as a source of joy to another. No definition is absolute. Only existence is absolute. All else is relative. I found it a problem to walk in the sun. But when for the sake of my guru I walked in the sun, I felt a surge of happiness. Is it difficult or pleasurable to walk in the sun? There can be no definite answer to that one. In one state there can be pleasure and in another, difficulty. Make your goals larger then there will be only happiness everywhere.

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Thought of the day

If a particular work is to done at a certain time, then do it at that very time. This direction is for an ascetic. There is no such directive to nature. Nature, by herself, does her work at the time when it ought to be done. Violations are done not only by humans but by nature too. The month of savan(rainy season) is passing away absolutely dry. This is nature's violation. How can savan be charming without greenery? Man's violations do bring difficulties but not so many as nature's violations do. Is it possible to find a formula for balance in nature?

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Thought of the day

There are few people who discuss world peace. The ones who build a climate of unrest in the world are many and they seem to be successful in their work. Those who talk about peace are less successful. Those who cause unrest know the point of beginning whereas those who talk of peace, do not. They want to straight-away grapple with the end result and so their success turns into failure. Those in power can not do so much for the spreading of peace as the common man can. The beginning point for peace is the individual and the end point is the world. Is it not further complicating the issue if we straight-away aim at world peace?

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Thought of the day

How expensive bread is! When we see labourers toiling, it strikes us as a bolt from the blue that indeed bread is expensive. There are some whose efficiency at work gets them their daily bread quite easily. Majority of the people earn their bread with toil. This dedication to work and work itself are the ones that can construct a new life. In essence, can we not say that bread and hard work are synonyms?

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Thought of the day

In life, it is difficult to always observe propriety. Why is the element of propriety less in nature? It is difficult to find an answer to this question. Nature has her own rules and so there are obstacles to propriety. Man too has his own rules, but he also has ego and greed which break the rules. The environment becomes one of mal adjustment. When ego and greed are dominant then how can one think of propriety? If, however, they both are subdued, then propriety is no problem.

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Thought of the day

Rectification is very important. The samskaras within, the surroundings in the outer world and the environment : they radiate the atoms of pollution. They keep influencing life. Pollution keeps coming to the fore. Somewhere the lines get interchanged, in some places, the commas and in other places, the fullstops. If they are not continually rectified, cleansed, life will become a basket of imperfections.

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Thought of the day

The life of a Terapanth Acharya, is not his own. There are both disadvantages and advantages of having one leader. Every person desires that the Acharya speaks to him. Everyone places his own problem before him and wants solutions. Devotion becomes so focused that they are not happy with presenting their problems to anybody else. The Acharya's duty is to satisfy everyone. On the one hand there is this talk about satisfaction, and on the other, the time required for the development of the organisation. Can decentralisation solve this problem?

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Thought of the day

Some people are endowed with power. They manage to work even while fasting. Some people are not so strong. Even after consuming nutritious meals, they are not able to complete any work. There are many forms of strength which manifest themselves in different ways. Even in amounts, they are not equal, manifesting sometimes in higher and sometimes in lower degrees. But strength is infinite. The coordination of its expression and materialisation makes a man great.

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Thought of the day

You walk. Before keeping the next foot forward, think. How much strength does your foot have? Without measuring one's strength, to put forward one's foot is not without dangers.
You talk. Before uttering the next word, measure how much strength there is in your speech. Without evaluating your speech, to speak further is not without dangers.
You work. Before undertaking any work measure how much work energy you possess. Without assessing your power, to undertake work is not without dangers.
The second step, the second word and the second hand will be the touchstone of your discrimination.

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Thought of the day

In the ancient practices of yoga, the Hridayapadam had been visualised. In the technique of Preksha Dhyan, its equivalent is Anand Kendra or the centre of bliss. This psychic centre is very useful, important and a source of great bliss. In this place the consciousness of the Atma is in its most intense form. That is why to develop this centre is to develop one's consciousness. Acharya Hemchandra has described its specialties thus:
Tatoavidya viliyante
vishayechcha vinashyati
vikalpa vinivarthante
gyanamantarvijrambhate.
The result of controlling one's breath and concentrating one's mind on the centre of bliss is -destruction of ignorance, rectification of desires, attainment of the state of thoughtlessness and gaining of inner knowledge.

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Thought of the day

Writing should not be an addiction. Is it necessary to communicate every thought to others? A wave rises in the sea and then falls and disappears within the same waters. Similarly a wave of thought rises and falls disappearing within itself. Is this not natural? Is it not unnatural to want to concretise that wave? In our world there are so many conflicts and disagreements in our thinking that now it seems more pleasant to move towards thoughtlessness. To be thoughtless is a state similar to that of the calm sea. A peaceful sea is desirable, waves and storms not always so.

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Thought of the day

Untitled Document <!-- .style1 {color:#FF9966;} --> The kind of discussions that take place in the world of psychology for the development of a complete personality, do not take place in the field of religion or philosophy. But its seeds are however scattered in the field of religion. To be only a scholar makes an incomplete personality. Similarly to be a person endowed with high conduct alone, does not make a complete person either. For the development of a complete personality, coordination of both conduct and knowledge are important.

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Thought of the day

Memory gives both pain and pleasure. Separation from a loved one, brings painful memories. As soon as we entered the Jain Vishwa Bharati complex, we experienced this truth. This place where we had experienced the presence of Gurudev Acharya Shree Tulsi, is now telling the story of separation. Many a time we have tried to falsify this truth, but the truth is, that truth can not be falsified.

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Thought of the day

There are three powers: the power of wealth, the power of rule and the power of religion. The power of wealth strengthens the ruling power and so occupies the first place. The power of the ruler manages the financial power. The affairs of a kingdom can not be conducted without financial power and financial power can not be managed without ruling power. Both are important for society. But one does not seem to experience the need for religion as being necessary for society. In the absence of religion, money leads society towards crime and the government towards immorality. At this juncture the need for religion is felt. This is because only religion, nothing else, has the power of renunciation.

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Thought of the day

Today is Holi. An important festival for the Hindu society. Many mythological stories and folklores are associated with it. Once a myth has been glorified, automatically a few folklores and aphorism are constructed around it. The truth however is that the month of spring (Basant) is one for merriment. Rejuvenated blood flows through our body and new grains fill the fields. This is actually an agrarian festival. A time for farmers to rejoice. When farmers bring home harvested wheat and gram, they are overcome with joy. Indeed, pods and pods of gram do make the festival joyful.

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Thought of the day

Every idea has a root cause which does not normally manifest itself. When there is an external stimuli the material cause( the root cause) manifests itself. So while the role of external stimuli can not be ignored, it is necessary to recognize that it gains expression only when there is a material cause. If the material cause is rectified, then the external stimuli would be disempowered. Based on this truth, Acharya Mantung says eulogising Lord Rishabha that, Chitram kimatra yadi te tridashang-anabhir neetam managapimano na vikaramargam kalpantakaalamaruta chalitachal kim mandaraadri shikharam chalitam kadachit. [No external stimulus or inducement is able to unsettle a patient man. To be patient is to control the mind in such a way as to develop intellect :that is firmness of mind. Kalidasa wrote this truth in poetry: Vikarhetau sati vikriyante yesham na chetaansi ta eva dheeraaha.

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Thought of the day

We have a fixed notion that we should always save ourselves from external stimuli. To desist external stimuli, the golden rule is to be immune to attraction. While there is an element of truth in this, on the basis of this one can not think of developing one's work. The complementary rule should be to 'strengthen the mind'. On the one hand we should save ourselves from external stimuli and on the other we should strengthen our mind. When the two happen together, there is progress towards a peaceful state of mind. What is surprising is that while a lot of attention is paid to save one self from external stimuli, so much is not paid to strengthening the mind.

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Thought of the day

If you want to prepare for a bright future never disregard the past. To recollect the past is like holding up a mirror. Seeing your reflection there, you can understand your assets and defects. This understanding will help to enhance your potential. Make an absolutely correct evaluation of the company you keep for it bears the stamp of your future. The most powerful weapon, however, is self confidence. If that is there, then go ahead and visualise a bright future, or else keep quiet.

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Thought of the day

Untitled Document <!-- .style1 {color:#FF9966;} --> The ultimate goal in life should be mental happiness. The tools to reach that goal are:

1) Limiting consumption enjoyment
2) Limiting individual property
3) Reducing violence
If the aim, however is to have
1) Maximum comfort
2) Maximum popularity
3) Maximum respectability

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Thought of the day

The kind of pleasure a word spoken from the vital energies of the Guru gives, neither political power nor wealth can give. Vital energy is the fundamental source of inner happiness. Wealth and power have the potential to give comfort and popularity, but lack the vital energy capable of giving bliss. I have seen the rich and the political leaders leading a sorrowful life while those blessed by the vital energy of the Guru, blooming with bliss.

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Thought of the day

We know of the greatness of the moon. Its secret lies in its purity. The sun too is dignified and the secret of his greatness is his light and radiance. The secret of the ocean's greatness is its depth. The Himalayas are unconquerable because of their height. How great will that man be who is pure in heart, bright and radiant, tall in stature and deep in the mind. These qualities are difficult to find but rare to find is a man endowed with all of them.

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Thought of the day

Religion has its own area wherein there is no concept of friend or foe. Amity is acceptable but not with only one person. Spiritual amity is with all mankind. On the basis of this principle, a sukta has been framed: Mitti mei savvabhutesu: I have amity with all living beings.

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Thought of the day

In politics, there is no friend or foe. At times friends become foes and foes, friends. This is true not only in politics but of man's very nature. Moments of friendship and enemity keep flashing across man's mind. The restlessness of the mind, after all. Then, in a restless mind how can we imagine the attribute of steadfastness.

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Thought of the day

Restraint in food habits is linked to both our body and mind. The first point of contact is health. The one who eats less remains healthy. The second point of contact is youth. The one who eats with restraint remains young for a long time and is also full of energy. The third point of contact is longevity. The one who practices self control in eating lives long and escapes untimely death. The fourth point of contact leads to cleansing of thoughts, serenity and purity of mind. On the basis of all this the Dhramasastra (religious texts) says maintain control over food. Svasthya sastra or the treatise on health also says practise restraint in food habits.

Thought of the day

Conduct is the essence of knowledge. So, only that knowledge will be useful which does not increase arrogance, is not binding, does not make one forget oneself but instead, helps in rectifying the samskraras and leads towards mental peace. The acid test for the usefulness of knowledge is that it should lead towards the soul. Knowledge that leads away from the soul is called ignorance in Indian literature. *Samskaras are the imprints of past events and lives on the mind.

Thought of the day

As I see it, the value material wealth has , even life does not seem to have. Material wealth is to support life not life to support material. Yet, it is surprising that the primary has become the secondary and the secondary the primary. The value money has, the breath does not have. Had breath been more important, the process of breathing would have been taught to the child from the very beginning. A child is taught how to earn, but not how to breathe. One who has not learnt to breathe, how can he, lead a peaceful life

Thought of the day

The exercise of control is the greatest power. A person faces many situations where he may slip up in life but if he is able to exercise control, he will have the strength to stabilize himself. A small slip-up may cause sorrow for a long time whereas exercising control over a short period may give long lasting happiness. We are familiar with the power of control. We are also familiar with the benefits of control. Yet to exercise control at the right time, is difficult, very difficult.

Thought of the day

Knowledge is transmittable. One person's knowledge manages to reach another. Experience, however is specific to the individual. It can not be shared. Even if the experience is similar, one person's experience can not become another's. The distinction between knowledge and experience is thus clear. Knowledge is beyond the senses but experience needs the senses.

Thought of the Day

Every man wants to be successful. It is surprising that even the man who does not know the manner in which to become successful, wants to be so. There is great distance between wanting-and perfecting. Want marks the beginning. Thereafter, to attain success, spiritual practice, strengthening of will power and development of concentration are essential. The one whose mind is filled with doubts and has weak will power will not be able to take his want to the end goal of achievement. So also one who has not developed his concentration will not be able to harness success.

Thought of the day

To have faith is a solution as well as a problem by itself.
It is a solution because the word riding on faith always gains immediate acceptance.
On the basis of that the problems of an organisation and of discipline are removed and the path of development becomes clear. Those who do not have faith have to face a longer struggle.
Faith is a problem because every man wants to meet the person who has faith and talk to him. Gradually respect gets superimposed by devotion.