________________
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Truth Seekers
Ätmajnän Tyän Munipanun, Te Sächä Guru Hoy; Bäki Kulguru Kalpanä, Ätmärthi Nahin Joy.
The self-realized are the ascetics, and they are the true Gurus; a truth seeker does not have any fancy about the family priests.
-34
Explanation & Discussion:
We come across many monks, but not all of them can be true ascetics and therefore cannot be resorted to as Gurus. Five attributes of a true Guru were laid down in the 10th stanza. Of those five, the attribute of self-realization is the first and foremost. It is therefore said here that true asceticism abides in self-realization. Ächäräng Sutra (1-5-3) states: "Jam Sammanti Päsah Tam Monanti Päsah." It means that where there is right perception, there is monkhood.
Jain Education International
58
Only such persons need be acknowledged as true Gurus. As stated in the previous chapter, there are people who attach importance to family priests, even though such priests may not have any concept of self-realization. But a truth seeker has no fancy for them. His purpose is to seek the true Guru, and does not therefore harbor any attachment to the family priests or to those belonging to any particular sect.
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
