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.
Frugality includes all the other virtues.
Master your breath, let the self be in bliss, contemplate on the sublime within you.
The more you know, the more unflinchingly you deny casual beliefs and Accepted Wisdom when it flies in the face of reality, the more carefully you observe the world and its people around you, the better chance you have of writing something meaningful and well-crafted.
Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible.
After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.
No one has a prosperity so high and firm that two or three words can't dishearten it.
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