Page 14 - Desire to Disaster

If a tyrant is using a staff to beat people, even animals will
not go near him. But a man under the spell of love will go
there repeatedly, get beaten up brutally by the tyrant, and
yet beg for more. In fact, man will chase the tyrant for more
of the same. This tyrant has two names: asañyama {lack
of self-control} and rāga {attachment}. But the man is so
captivated by this tyrant, that he shall constantly beg for
more. He considers this tyrant to be his only shelter.

As a consequence, man loses the opportunity to weaken the
hold of attachment over him, through his strength of self-
control and intelligence. He wastes this life, knowing fully
well that his next opportunity to be born as a human will
come after who knows how many lifetimes steeped in loss
and sorrow.

Being reborn as a human is difficult enough. But to be born
on Aryan soil, where dharma is followed is even rarer. Then,
to be born in a good family, and even more rare, to be born
in a Jain family..

And even if he were fortunate enough to be reborn as a
human, in this noble land, and be fortunate enough to be
born in a Jain family, is it guaranteed that he would not get
sidetracked by the same two flaws of lack of self-control and
attachment?

It is commonly observed that we instantly recall what we
are used to. This is why, start working on weakening your
attachment and aversion from now. For this, move out of
the rut of lack of self-control, and walk on the path of self-
control and penance.
Deception during the Kaumudi Festival

Rupsen was caught up in his love and desire for the princess.
He had lost his sense of propriety and morality. There came
the Kaumudi festival. Sunanda thought to herself that since

14 Desire to Disaster