Page 117 - Courage Redifined

his business or routine household chores. A chill runs down
his spine on thinking that he has to kill innocent living beings
who have not harmed him for his selfish purpose. He possesses
such a strong feeling of kindness and compassion for all living
beings. Due to this feeling, he feels like leaving this material
world. He considers the worldly life to be like poison.

Today, you are enjoying a worldly life and it doesn't seem
poisonous because you have attained some money, a good
wife, obedient children and the business is doing well. Do you
have any regrets, “For how long do I have to run this sinful
world of mine ?” No, because the violence of innumerable
minute one-sensed organisms does not bother you. Your
heart does not overflow with the compassion of all living
creatures.

If you feel compassionate towards these Ekindriya beings,
then you will definitely consider this material world which
is dependent on their violence, to be poisonous. In the

Poshadha vrata Pooja of the Bara Vrata Pooja, we recite this
line,
“Sheetal nahi chhaya re aa sansaarni….”

It means that the shelter of the sansara (i.e. material world)
is not soothing, but burning. During hot summer days, the
shelter of a tree seems to be soothing while the shelter of the

top floor of the building roof made of metals seems dreadful.
Similarly, the shelter of this world is like the hot burning
metal roof of the house because in spite of having compassion
for the innocent living beings, a shravaka has to slaughter
them.
A true shravaka has a very compassionate heart and hence
when he is served delicious hot food which pleases him, he

The Depth of Jainism 107