________________
433
India who know and theoretically believe their souls to be Gods, yet they are hopelessly involved in delusion and utterly helpless against its temptations and snares. These men have no idea of what the actual enjoyment or realization of God-consciousness means. The acquisition of God-consciousness depends on such a degree of unshakable, unchanging conviction of Truth that one should be prepared to stake one's all, that is, to risk one's very life, if necessary, in its cause. Such a conviction necessitates a complete saturation of mind with belief in one's Own God-hood and in the harmfulness of the objects of senses. This is the standard of faith which all those who aspire to be saved have to attain to. An early endeavour, it will be observed, is made in every rational religion to strengthen the devotee's faith by various means. The constant reading of works like Puranas, which in simple, easy language teach and illustrate the great truths of the divine philosophy, the recitation of kathâs (biographies of saints and deified beings), the constant meditation on the sense and philosophy of shâstras, the daily chanting of hymns and holy mantras such as Om, and the fixing of the mind on certain nervous centres, not with the object of acquiring psychic powers, but with the sole aim of realizing the great and beatific condition of liberation from the bondage of flesh and mâyâ, are some of the many means suggested by religion. The curbing of evil emotions and unholy passions, the giving of suitable gifts to learned and deserving men, the daily devotion and meditation, all tending to destroy personal hopes and ambitions, which owe their origin to the flesh,
no
Jain Education International
YOGA.
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org