________________
Chapter 2 : Characteristics of Sectarians
54
નહિ કષાય ઉપશાંતતા, નહિ અંતર વૈરાગ્ય; સરળપણું ન મધ્યસ્થતા, એ મતાર્થી દુર્ભાગ્ય.
113211
Nahi Kashäy Upashäntata, Nahi Antar Vairägya; Saralpanun Na Madhyasthatä, E Matärthi Durbhägya.
Unfortunate is the sectarian, who has not calmed down the passions, does
not have inner detachment, and is neither straightforward nor impartial.
- 32 -
Explanation & Discussion:
The spiritual level of an aspirant is governed by the presence of certain attributes, which a sectarian does not have. In order to avoid being caught within the sectarian net, one should know those attributes. This stanza therefore describes four principal attributes, which a spiritual aspirant must have and which a sectarian does not possess.
The first is pacification or calming down the passions. Anger, ego, deception, and greed are the main passions that need to be calmed down; but a sectarian does not heed to that aspect on account of insistence on his own viewpoint. The second is internal detachment, which a sectarian cannot cultivate because of the same reason. The third is straightforwardness, which can come forth only from the absence of vanity, deception, etc. The fourth is impartial attitude, which comes from an open mind. Only an open
Jain Education International -
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
