Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and making sacrifices to achieve personal growth.
Mahavira suggests that self-control is fundamental to personal development and that practicing self-discipline can begin with simple acts of sacrifice, such as fasting. This approach not only helps in overcoming desires but also paves the way for deeper introspection and spiritual advancement.
In practice
In a wellness seminar, one might quote Mahavira to encourage participants to embrace fasting as a way to practice self-control.
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.
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.
It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong.
"He sido un hombre afortunado en la vida, nada me ha sido facil." "I've been a fortunate man in life, nothing has come easy"
Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics donβt learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us.
Wise investors won't try to outsmart the market.
If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.
In the sick room, ten cents' worth of human understanding equals ten dollars' worth of medical science.
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