Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

SR No.: 001190
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 266
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Ethics, & Principle
File Size: 13 MB

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RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS
the fearless; this is Brahman.” If the pupils had understood this as meant for the person that sees through the eye, or out of the eye, they would have received a right though indirect idea of the Self. But when they thought that the reflection of man in the eye of another person was meant, they were wrong. And they evidently took it in the latter sense, for they asked, “Sir, he who is perceived in the water and he who is perceived in a mirror, who is he ?” Prajāpati replied, “He, the Self himself indeed is seen in all these. Look at yourself in a pan of water, and whatever you do not understand of yourself, come and tell me.” They looked in the water pan. Then Prajapati said, "What do you see ?” They said, “We both see the Self thus altogether, a picture even to the very hairs and nails.” Prajāpati then said, “After you have adorned yourselves, have put on your best clothes and cleansed yourselves, look again in the water pan.” They did so and looked into the water pan. Prajāpati said, “What do you see?” They said, “Just as we are, well-adorned, with our best clothes and clean, thus we are both there, Sir, well-adorned, with our best clothes and clean.” Prajāpati said, "That is the Self, that is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman.” They both went away satisfied in their hearts.
Prajāpati thought, "They both go away without having perceived and without having known the Self and whoever of these two whether gods or demons will follow this doctrine will perish.” Now Virocana satisfied in his heart went to the demons and preached that doctrine to them, that the Self alone is to be served and that he who worships the Self and serves the Self gains both worlds, this and the next.
Therefore they call even now a man who does not give alms here, who has no faith and offers no sacrifices an asura, a demon; for this is the doctrine of demons. They deck out the body of the dead with perfumes, flowers and fine raiment by way of omament and think they will thus conquer the world. But Indra before he had retumed to the gods saw this difficulty : As this Self (shadow in the water) is well adomed when the body is well adomed, well dressed when the body is well dressed, well