Yuvacharya Mahashraman
Self-Introspection
We, human beings are very fond of looking at others and criticizing them. To be critical is not needed. If one has to be critical one should just be self-critical. Instead of finding faults with others, try and look at yourself, if you are self-analytical. Try to weigh your own good and bad qualities. Only then can one progress forward.
Once Acharya Tulsi was visiting a town. A person came to him and started conversing with him. During the middle of the conversation, another man came joined in whispered in Acharya Tulsi's ear that the person he was talking to, was an alcoholic addict.
Acharya Tulsi didn't say anything, but kept on conversing with the first person. After the conversation ended Acharya Tulsi asked the person he was talking with, if he ever drank.
The man replied in the affirmative. He said he used to drink alcohol a lot but now he had given it up for life.
After the man left, Acharya Tulsi told all the people present that a drunkard had given up drinking for life. He wondered if the people present would be able to give up some vice also. Vices like without proof talking about something. Not only discussing but without full knowledge of a situation the people are convinced that they are true.
Bhagawan Mahavir has said that people who look at other people's faults in the long run are unhappy themselves. People who look at themselves and their own faults are the happy ones. This is a strong traditional belief of Lord Mahavir's teachings.
