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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
8. JEALOUSY
DEAR PEOPLE THAT COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER
Jealousy and the spirit of competition are more or less the same but there is some difference between them. There is as much difference between them as there is between salt and sugar. Burning with intolerance at the sight of the happiness of others is jealousy but the spirit of competition does not produce such intolerance.
Those who are prompted by the spirit of competition endeavour to reach the level of those who are superior to them. This is a virtue, fit to be cultivated.
Just as the blood of an angry man boils, the blood of a jealous man buils and his mind is unhappy. He tries to cause harm to others in order to get rid of his unhappiness. In this manner he is unhappy and he causes unhappiness to others. Hence jealousy is a vice that should be discarded. हेतावीर्युः फले नेयुः ॥
77*4fETI Hetāvirshyuh phale Nerş yuh.
Charakasamhita "Envy is admissible in respect of causes (this is called emulation) not in respect of results or effects."
If anyone has acquired material wealth, we should not feel jealous of him but on the contrary we should try to realize the causes for his becoming affluent; we should understand and realize the intelligence and industry by virtue of which he acquired his wealth. We too should try to acquire wealth like him by means of hard work and intelligence. Not only this; we can also
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