Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
Chapter: 1 Verse: 8
Do not be disheartened, O brave ones, for what is there to fear? Even if you are faced with adversity, do not be discouraged. ||69||
Free from the cycle of birth and death, transcending the world and the afterlife, living in the bliss of liberation, free from attachment and delusion, this is the true path. ||70||
The twelvefold path of liberation, the fivefold vows, the twenty-fivefold virtues, these are the paths to liberation. ||71||
Do not be deceived by the illusions of the world, the fleeting pleasures and pains, the coming together and separation, the impermanence of life and death. Be steadfast in your resolve, O brave ones. ||72||
Just as a bird seeks refuge in a strong tree, so too should one seek refuge in the teachings of the Jinas, the conquerors of delusion. ||73||
Do not be like a foolish person who wastes their precious time in worldly pursuits. Instead, strive for the eternal bliss of liberation, the true wealth that is beyond the reach of the senses. ||74||
The true path lies in the practice of the twelvefold path, the fivefold vows, the twenty-fivefold virtues, the practice of meditation and contemplation, and the offering of salutations to the Jinas. ||75||
At the time of death, one should remember the twelvefold path, the fivefold vows, the twenty-fivefold virtues, and the fourfold refuge. ||76||
This is the supreme path, the path that leads to liberation, the path that extinguishes suffering and brings true happiness. ||77||
Thus, by practicing the fivefold vows, with a pure and joyful heart, one sheds the shackles of delusion and attains liberation. ||78||
**Commentary:**
The author explains that the process of a Shravaka (lay follower) taking the vow of non-eating (Anashan) should be explained in detail, as it is a significant event. The process involves various steps, including:
* **Guru Sangha Puja:** Offering respect to the community of teachers.
* **Sadharmika Swatjan Vatsalya:** Showing love and compassion to fellow practitioners.
* **Dinadi Dan:** Giving charity to the needy.
* **Jina Chaitya Kara Apan Bimba Nirman:** Creating images and symbols of the Jinas.
* **Tat Pratistapana:** Establishing these images and symbols.
* **Siddhant Lekhan:** Writing about the teachings of the Jinas.
* **Tirth Yatra Vidhan:** Organizing pilgrimages to sacred sites.
* **Jina Shasan Prabhavna:** Spreading the teachings of the Jinas.
The author emphasizes that these acts of merit should be performed before taking the vow of non-eating. He also mentions that the process of a young scholar (Bal Pandit) taking the vow of non-eating should be explained in a similar manner.