Handbook of Jainology

SR No.: 001346
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhuvanbhanusuri
Publisher: Divya Darshan Trust
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Philosophy
File Size: 15 MB

Page 142

The path of salvation
dharma. It is evident that even the lives of animals and birds (Tiryanch) are wasteful. Even after the jiva reaches the level of the human state of existence, the attainment of dharma may not be easy for it, because the jiva has to spend in samsar a duration called one pudgal paravarthakal. Only after that, can it attain dharma.
97
Human beings realize the efficacy of dharma of bestowing upon them such beautiful benefits as life in the heavenly state of existence and to attain those benefits, they may receive Deeksha into charitra dharma; they may become sadhus and observe severe vows; but since this endeavour is directed towards felicity in samsar, the real dharma does not penetrate the heart, when the final pudgal paravarthakal called the Charamavarthakal appears, the jiva will begin thinking of his soul and dharma; will develop dislike for samsar; and will develop a desire or taste for moksha. Like the periodical fever, mitya etc. attain ripeness within a fixed duration; then the intensity of attachment will grow mild and a taste for dharma appears.
BHAVYA AND ABHAVYA JIVAS:
The idea of attaining moksha appears only in the minds of Bhavya jivas (noble jivas). It does not appear in Abhavya jivas (ignoble jivas). Bhavya actually means the worthiness to attain moksha. Abhavya means being devoid of the worthiness to attain moksha. The Abhavya jivas never have faith in moksha and they do not accept the validity of the principle of salvation. In their mids, this doubt does not arise at any time, "Will I attain moksha or not? Should I always be wandering in samsar?" The reason is that its infatuation or partiality for the samsar does not decline or disappear. The truth is that if the jiva entertains at least this idea, "Should I always be turning round and round in the wheel of birth and death? Can I never get salvation? Am I a Bhavyajiva or Abhavya jiva?", it will surely become a Bhavyajiva when it has entered the final phase of existence in the life called charamavarth because it is only in the charamavartha phase of time that a natural taste for moksha appears in the depths of his personality. When this taste for moksha ap