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.