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________________ 496 THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE. It is in no ambiguous terms that the Vedas themselves point out the identity between the sacrificer and the sacrifice. The following texts may be cited as relewant to the point under consideration :-- 1. «The sacrificer is himself the victim. It (the sacrifice) takes the very sacrificer himself to heaven" (Tait, Br. III. 12. 4. 3). 2. “The sacrificer is the animal" (S. P. Br. XI. 1. 8. 3). 3. "The animal is ultimately the sacrificer himself" (Tait. Br. II, 2. 8. 2). 4. "The sacrificer is indeed the sacrifice" (Tait. Br. I. 28). It is thus clear that all the religions we have examined here are at one on the point that it is the sacrifice of one's own lower nature which is enjoined, not that of poor, inoffensive beasts. Let us, then, offer to God the sacrifices which are pleasing and acceptable unto him, and avoid the shedding of innocent blood in his holy name. The bull which has horns and hoofs should be replaced on the sacrificial altar with the one that has no horns and hoofs, i.e., by one's own neck, the symbol and seat of human pride and conceit. The ram and the he-goat, hitherto misunderstood to mean the animals of those names, now become the sense of egotism and carnal nature of the sacrificer himself. Let us in future offer to God only the self-less praise, with bent knees and bowed head, and we shall find, ere long, that it is the offering which is the source of bliss and blessedness for the sacrificer. The embodiment of all kinds of perfection, God does not want our worship at all; but it is we who want to worship him for our own individual good. The divinity within cannot, however, come into manifestation till the calculating, appropriating ego holds Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
SR No.006702
Book TitleKey of Knowledge
Original Sutra AuthorN/A
AuthorChampat Rai Jain
PublisherZZZ Unknown
Publication Year1919
Total Pages1204
LanguageEnglish
ClassificationBook_English
File Size25 MB
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