Acharya Mahaprajna
Once a man was bathing in a pond. He took deep dips. Thus, for an hour he kept surfacing and dipping. At last he came out. While returning home he filled the pitcher with water and resting it on his shoulder he started walking home.
His house was a little too far. He got tired on the way.
He started musing, 'When I dipped in the pond hundreds of tons of water was on my head, but I did not experience any heaviness. The pitcher cannot have more than ten to twelve kilos of water and yet it feels heavy. Why?'
Everyone who delves into both limited and extensive areas asks such a question.
In a pond water is unrestricted - its area is extensive - therefore, the pressure of its weight gets dispersed. Water in a pitcher is restricted - its area is limited - therefore, the pressure of its weight gets concentrated. When wealth is accumulated in a few hands, it gives rise to pressures, tension and the feeling of heaviness, When wealth gets widely dispersed, the atmosphere becomes free from tension, pressure and the feeling of heaviness.
That is why Lord Mahavira said, ‘A man feels burdened by owning wealth and light by not doing so.'
When food products get concentrated in a few hands, the atmosphere becomes full of pressure, tension and heaviness. When food products get distributed among all, the atmosphere becomes free from pressure, tension and heaviness.
That is why Lord Mahavira said, ‘A man feels burdened by owning food products and light by not doing so.'
When happiness gets concentrated - leading to total disregard of the difficulties of others - the atmosphere becomes full of pressure, tension and heaviness. When happiness is shared extensively -resulting in lack of interest in increasing the difficulties of others - the atmosphere becomes free from pressure, tension and heaviness.
That is why Lord Mahavira said, 'A man feels burdened by monopolizing happiness and light by not doing so.'
Ask any traveller on foot whether he wants to travel light or heavy. The answer will be, 'I want to travel light.' How much burden do we put on our brain? We carry a greater load of fancies than the load a donkey carries. We carry a greater load of plans than the load a camel carries. We carry a greater load of beliefs than the load an elephant carries. Many people are heard saying they lack happiness and peace of mind.
They want peace but do not want to lighten the burden on the brain.
They want happiness but do not want to lighten the burden on the brain.
A heavy body betokens illness; a light body betokens health.
A heavy mind betokens restlessness; a light mind betokens peace.
In the present industrial age there is an all round increase in tension - nervous tension, mental tension, interpersonal tension and business tension. There is everywhere tension and the insanity born of tension. Is there any remedy for it other than lightness (reduction). Filling a pitcher for one's own use and carrying that much load is understandable, but building a pond only for one's own use is incomprehensible and those doing so are destroying not only their own happiness and peace but the happiness and peace of the whole society.
