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 53

DISCOURSE 3
greedy people utter lies. The great sages who were sincere, selfless and dispassionate spoke only the truth.
The word denotes an object
One argument is really wonderful. The object that is existent can be negated. The object that is not existent anywhere cannot be negated. If hell did not really exist the statement that there is no hell would not have been there. "There is no hell”. When you say this, its existence is proved. Yes, hell is not situated in this middle world. It is not situated in the higher world. This is right; but it is absolutely wrong to believe that there is no hell at all.
When there is a word, it denotes a meaning or an object. The word "book" is like that. It has a meaning. It denotes an object called book. There is no word which does not denote an object that is implied in its meaning. Can anyone of you mention such a word! Can you think of a word which does not denote an object implied in its meaning. Is there such a word ? Think well and answer. Do not give the example of a word which is made up of two words. You must mention an independent word. You may mention such a word as a "Donkeyhorn" and say that the object denoted by it does not exist. A donkey does not have horns. Such a compound word cannot be used. The word donkey is there; and there is an animal of that name. There is an organ called "horn" also.
Is this not an irrefutable argument? There is no counterargument to this contention. There is no answer to this. Hell is such an independent word; and the existence of such an independent word itself is a proof of the existence of hell. At least now, do you believe that hell exists. What kind of jivas go to hell ? By committing what sins have they to go to hell ? What are the various kinds of torments and tortures that are to be endured in hell ? You ask these questions now. Please bear this in mind. Those who do not think of Dharma and who do not act according to it; but who think of sins and commit sins have to go to hell. They have to remain there for thousands or lakhs or crores of years experiencing endless agonies, torments