Page 166 - Faith Personified
P. 166

Q. Scriptures are a necessity because they show us the
           method to channelize our efforts in the right direction.

           Ans. But the scriptures show innumerable methods ranging
           from the lowest to the highest level. Which method will you
           follow? Because you have no idea as to what level of efforts
           destiny will provide. Without that knowledge, how can you

           fix your method?

           Q. But can’t you estimate your capacity and thus determine
           the level of efforts you can take and accordingly select the
           appropriate measures to exercise those efforts from the
           scriptures?

           Ans. At the end you have to keep aside destiny and shift your
           focus on your capacity, right? Hence, you have to agree that
           if you leave everything entirely on destiny, the scriptures i.e.

           His preachings would become futile. Because scriptures
           constantly tell you to put forth right efforts without concealing
           your capacities. To summarise.

              i) For our task we can estimate our capacity but not
                 destiny.

              ii) We are independent in putting forth efforts according

                 to our capacity, but not controlled by destiny.

           Infinite Tirthankaras established the Shasana with this very
           purpose, so that we do not rely on destiny but stop our
           wrong efforts and accelerate the right ones. Destiny does not
           create our wrong or right efforts. They are created due to



                                       152
   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171