Attachment and aversion are the root cause of karma, and karma originates from infatuation. Karma is the root cause of birth and death, and these are said to be the source of misery. None can escape the effect of their own past karma.
Interpretation
This quote highlights how our attachments and aversions lead to karma, which in turn causes suffering through the cycle of life and death.
In this quote, Mahavira emphasizes the interconnectedness of attachment, aversion, and karma. He explains that our emotional ties and dislikes create karma, which shapes our experiences in life, including birth and death. The suffering we endure stems from this cycle of karma, suggesting that understanding and transcending our attachments can lead to liberation from misery. Ultimately, the quote serves as a reminder that one cannot escape the consequences of their past actions, urging us to reflect on our choices and their effects.
In practice
During a philosophy discussion about the causes of suffering.
If one undertakes retrospection of the day's events, one must do it regularly at the appointed hour, not fitfully, not doing it today, neglecting to do it tomorrow and the day after and then taking it up again on the fourth day. Such irregular practice is not conducive to the confirmation of the habit of retrospection.
If you want to cultivate a habit, do it without any reservation, till it is firmly established. Until it is so confirmed, until it becomes a part of your character, let there be no exception, no relaxation of effort.
Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.
Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.
Modes are infinite, and laws are infinite.
Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence.
During the first formative centuries of its existence, Christianity was separated from and indeed antagonistic to the state, with which it only later became involved. From the lifetime of its founder, Islam was the state, and the identity of religion and government is indelibly stamped on the memories and awareness of the faithful from their own sacred writings, history, and experience.
I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.
A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean question: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well - or ill?
Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing.
One must choose between making a man or a citizen, for one cannot make both at the same time.
All human knowledge takes the form of interpretation.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.