Acharya Mahaprajna
Negligence is fear whereas alertness is fearlessness. Lord Mahavira says: "Negligence is surrounded by fear on all sides." It is bound by fear everywhere. Not a single moment passes in a state of fearlessness. Every moment is a moment of fear. A fearful person cannot trust anybody. He smells faithlessness everywhere. He will not part with the key to his safe to anyone. He is afraid all the time that the other person might do away with his treasure. Not even his son is beyond suspicion. He fears that his son will not treat him with respect once he gains access to his wealth. There would be no need for the son then to look up to his father. A fearful person does not even trust his wife. He is afraid that both mother and son might conspire to bring him disgrace, to usurp his power and render him helpless. Because of his fear, a man is loth to part with his keys till the very last. Fear is negligence.
Some people might call it alertness. But if we go into it deeply, we shall find fear lurking behind this alertness. Without the fear of what other people might do to him, this alertness is not possible. Thus the cause of such alertness is fear. Sometimes we find ourselves staying in rooms where lakhs of rupees are kept in the almirahs. We find ourselves alone in these rooms without any watchmen to guard the treasure lying in the almirahs. The owner of the house sleeps soundly. He does not toss restlessly in bed because he entertains no fear that the monks would make away with his money. Therefore he sleeps soundly. Why does a man lie awake? One lies awake when one is assailed by some fear. Where there is no fear, there is perfect security.
On finding oneself in a fearful situation, one should not get perplexed. Of course one must use one's discretion so as not to invite any sudden danger. But if a dangerous situation does not arise, a man's vital energy should be so abundant that he should be able to face the challenge without any fear. Thus danger comes and goes without in any way harming the individual. In this world, he, who is weak, is tormented by all; no one dare torment the powerful.
