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.
Interpretation
To establish a habit, practice it consistently and with commitment until it becomes an integral part of yourself.
This quote by Mahavira emphasizes the importance of dedication and unwavering commitment in cultivating habits. It suggests that in order to truly integrate a habit into one’s life, one must pursue it with full effort and without exceptions, allowing it to become a foundational aspect of one’s character over time.
In practice
In a self-improvement seminar discussing the importance of consistent habits.
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.
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.
Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence.
Many a profound genius, I suppose, who fills the world with fame of his exploding renowned errors, is yet everyday posed and baffled by trivial questions at his own supper table.
I like children; I like 'em, and I respect 'em. Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by them.
The most active lives have so much routine as to preclude progress almost equally with the most inactive.
Part of my preparation for the World Champion match against Kasparov was to be ready for his off-board tactics. I did not to react to them at all. Once you start thinking about these things during the game, even analysing them, you're caught.
Rhetoric is not important. Actions are.
Is the distinction between living for Christ and dying for Him so great? Is not the second the logical conclusion of the first?
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