________________
EXISTENCE OF THE SOUL
57
G.–Therefore, O Monks, whatever body past, future, or present; external or internal, gross or fine, low or high, far or near, all this body--this is not mine, nor I am its, nor this is my soul. Thus should one see rightly to arrive at the best discrimination. In the same way all these feelings, perceptions, mentalities, consciousness (of past, present and future) should be thought of. O. Monks, The Aryasravaka well versed in scriptures seeing thus, becomes non-attached from the body, feelings, perceptions, mentalities and consciousness. Being unattached, he gives up affection, becomes free from them through non-attachment, having thus freed mentally he realizes that he is freed-his birth is destroyed, his Brahmacharya (chastity or self absorption) is complete, whatever was to be done has been done, here nothing else is mine, he knows this. Therefore, O Monks, give up that which is not yours. By this means you will be happy and contented for a long time.
O Monks---What objects do not belong to you? This body, this feeling, this perception, these mentalities, this consciousness, all this is not yours.
O Monks ! If in this Jetavana forest, one may steal or break or destroy any grass, any stem, any branch, or any leaf, would you maintain that one has stolen you, broken you or destroyed you.
M.-O Lord, no, we cannot maintain so. G.-Why will you not feel so ?
8
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
