must first become a mas ter of yourself.
Right now you are
a slave to the very people you call yourself mas ter of. I have
found the master-within myself. When you too find the
master, all your present estate will dissolve and a new estate
shall come into being."
A thinker of Denmark has written- 'You are genuinely
worried when you feel that the ground has slipped from
under your feet. This is the moment which decides one's
future. But if before that one has had no direct experience
of truth, one generally renders one's future darksome. Even
in the moment of surrendering one's body to death, one's
consciousness hovers like a kite around one's own people and
things; consequently, after death, one is reborn in the sarne
old environment". Mahavir, Buddha, etc. have said, "Seek
refuge in yourself." Seek refuge in nature. Let the sadhak
observe the total lack of protection outside, and also observe
what lies within. That which lies within is eternal. Salvation
lies only in holding on to the eternal. Let not the eternal be
forgotten even for a second. This is the yoga of remembrance,
of awareness. Guru Nanak says, "He who never forgets Him,
is really great." That is the only true estate we may carry along
with us.
Creation of A Wholesome Society
Mahavira gave us the maxim 'insecurity'. He did not
declare anyone to be safe. He said, "He who seeks refuge
where there is none, is destroyed." There is nothing secure.
How can another provide any protection? An enlightened soul
represents the purity of the soul; a perfected soul embodies
the perfection of the soul; a hermit embodies the aspirant
nature of the soul and religion embodies its consciousness.
There is no other refuge. One's salvation lies in one's own
soul, in knowledge, in perception and in character.
The trinity of knowledge, perception and character
(veetaragata) is-an enlightened soul.
The trinity of knowledge, perception and character is-
a perfected soul.
A monk represents the practice of the trinity of knowledge,
Bhavana::31
master." Anathi Muni said, "How can you be my master; you
30 .:: Abstmct Thinking
inhútion and character.
Religion represents the conduct of the trinity of
knowledge, perception and character.
All these are not different from the soul. Let us shed this
illusion that we are seeking refuge in another. ln seeking
refuge in them, we are seeking refuge in ourselves, in our
own being.
Toe person who practises this anupreksha, this wholesome
thinking, cannot be W\Social or impractical. AH refinement in
conduct, reformation in society, revolution and welfare is
effected by such persons only. Those who are caught in
attachment and illusion, cannot reforro society, nor accomplish
good works, nor can such persons bring about a social
revolution. They cannot take society to the summit of
progress. How should they? A person who is deeply attached
to material things, who considers matters to be something
eternal, struggles so hard for material objects so as to involve
the whole society in endless strife. On the other hand, a person
who is wholly given to social and group conditioning, follows
the group blinclly, says to himself, "Whatever happens to
others will happen to me". This collectivism then becomes
the means of taking one into dense darkness.
Toe individual who seeks security and refuge in others
becomes a cypher in oneself. He always depends upon others
to save him. So he follows others. He never tries to stand on
his own feet. If these truths are realized by a social individual,
the very face of society is altered. Society then assumes a form
which it had never assumed before. A society erected on
spiritual foundation and based upon these truths, will be a
revolutionary, orderly, peace-loving society, well-disposed
towards ali.
32 .:: Abstract Thinking
as these continue, the total freedom of the soul remains
urunanifested. Toe contemplation of worldly life in various
forms and conditions constitutes the bhavana of transmigration.
The World : A Study
The anupreksha of the world means-to come to know
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