Way of Life Part 1

SR No.: 006513
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 432
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 22 MB

Page 206

196
THE WAY OF LIPE
totally devoid of attachments, having renounced everything. So, naturally, he renounces his kingdom, power and position. Standing before the Paramatma, you must think thus, "Oh Jineshwar Paramatma! Though you are seated on the royal throne, you have no attachment for position or power. You are not fascinated by the splendours of the royal life. You are not interested in physical enjoyments. You are a great yogi without any attachments while I am a poor Bhogi entangled in attachments. I do not have any royal splendour; I do not possess any divine bliss. But I am enticed by despicable pleasures. Oh Lord, liberate me from my attachments."
You desire to be detached; do you not? You desire that your mind must be freed from the attractions of worldly joys and it should renounce them. Is that your wish? If that is what you wish, seek from the Paramatma, by means of Avasthachintan the ability to renounce everything.
THE STATE OF MENDICANCY
The third state is that of mendicancy. When the Paramatma renounced the splendid pleasures of the palace and of the royal life and when he became initiated into the life of a Sadhaka or a Shramana, the whole world looked on with great wonder and awe. He should be omniscient and he should have achieved an absolute victory over attachments and hatred if he should carry out, his mission of showing to all beings, the way to supreme bliss. Until a soul does not attain omniscience and until it does not attain an absolute victory over the inner enemies, it cannot give any spiritual guidance to others. In order to attain Sarvajnatha (omniscience) and Vitharagatha (victory over inner enemies) one has to carry out severe austerities and to make extraordinary endeavours. The life of a shramana is for making such spiritual endeavours. Acquisition of knowledge, the performance of meditation and Tapasya and discipling the soul are the tasks that are to be accomplished by a Shraman, A Shraman makes endeavours to destroy all Karmas, that impede the attainment of omniscience and victory over the inner enemies. Bhagwan Mahavir carried out these severe austerities