Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence.
Interpretation
Eating can hinder our ability to self-regulate, leading to laziness.
Mahavira's quote emphasizes the idea that the act of eating can be a significant barrier to exercising self-control. It suggests that indulgence in food may not only affect our physical state but also lead to a lethargic mindset, which can impede our ability to take action or make disciplined choices in life.
In practice
In a personal development seminar focused on motivation and discipline.
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.
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.
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.
As a younger person, my philosophy was jump off a cliff. I realize now that there are stairs and elevators. I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me. I can even ask for help! Not feeling that I have to know everything, and thatβs where the growth comes in, in the not knowing.
Why did I rob banks? Because I enjoyed it. I loved it. I was more alive when I was inside a bank, robbing it, than at any other time in my life. I enjoyed everything about it so much that one or two weeks later I'd be out looking for the next job. But to me the money was the chips, that's all.
A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.
It is difficult to discriminate the voice of truth from amid the clamor raised by heated partisans.
Our biggest problem as human beings is not knowing that we don't know.
Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist, more than Gauss.
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