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|| Om Arhate Namah || 4. Light
In the first three lights, the three jewels of knowledge, faith, and conduct have been described as the cause of the soul's liberation, in relation to the distinction between dharma and the righteous. Now, in relation to the non-distinction, the oneness of the three jewels of knowledge, faith, and conduct with the soul is being described.
327. The soul itself is vision, knowledge, and conduct, or so it is said of the ascetic. That which is identical with the soul, resides in the body. ||1||
Meaning: Or, the soul of the ascetic (saint) is itself vision, knowledge, and conduct; because the soul, which is the essence of vision, etc., resides in the body. ||1||
Explanation: The word "or" in the original verse is used to indicate a second alternative in relation to the non-distinction. The soul itself is the essence of vision, knowledge, and conduct; vision, etc., are not different from the soul. Connecting the ascetic (muni) with the soul, the soul, which is the essence of vision, knowledge, and conduct, resides in the body of the ascetic. Vision, etc., are not separate from the soul, they are the essence of the soul. From this, it becomes the cause of liberation. If it were different from the soul, it could not be the cause of liberation. Devadatta's knowledge, etc., cannot liberate Yajnadutta. ||1|| They support the non-distinction.
328. The soul knows the soul by itself, this knowledge is not for the ignorant, therefore it is said that by abandoning delusion, the soul knows its own soul by its own soul, that is its conduct, that is its knowledge, and that is its faith-like vision. ||2||
Now they praise self-knowledge.
329. The suffering that arises from ignorance of the soul is destroyed by self-knowledge. Those who are devoid of self-knowledge cannot destroy suffering even by austerity. ||3||
Meaning: The soul suffers due to ignorance of the soul, and that suffering is destroyed only by self-knowledge. Those who are devoid of self-knowledge, even those humans cannot destroy suffering by austerity, etc. ||3||
Explanation: In this world, all kinds of suffering are obtained without self-knowledge. Just as darkness is destroyed by light, so too is suffering destroyed by self-knowledge, which is its opposite. Many people raise doubts about this, saying, "The main cause of the destruction of karma is austerity, not knowledge, therefore it is also said that those who have bound themselves by karma through opposite conduct, who have not performed atonement for such karma, cannot be liberated without experiencing them, or liberation can be attained by destroying karma through austerity." The solution to this is that the ignorant soul cannot cut off suffering by austerity or any other ritual. The soul can only cut off suffering by pure knowledge, austerity without knowledge is of little fruit. It is also said, "An ignorant person destroys as much karma in a hundred years of austerity as a three-fold knowledge-holder destroys in a single breath." (Brihatkalpa Bhashya, verse 1170) From this, it is concluded that one should strive for the soul, which is the essence of the three jewels, by abandoning external objects or objects of the senses. Others say, "The soul is to be heard, contemplated, and meditated upon." (Brihadaranyaka 4/5/6) Self-knowledge is not even slightly different from the soul. But the soul, which is the essence of knowledge, can know itself through its own experience. There is no other self-knowledge than this. Similarly, vision and conduct are not different from the soul. Such a soul, which is the essence of consciousness, is also called by the names of knowledge, etc. Here there is a doubt, "Why is this called self-knowledge, leaving aside other subjects? Knowledge of other subjects is also a form of ignorance, suffering.
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