I am The Soul Part 01

SR No.: 006790
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association
Total Pages: 468
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 150

Serving at the feet of a Sadguru
The pursuit of the three-fold path demands a spirit of total dedication. Not unless a jiva develops dedication towards the three elements - sudeva, suguru and sudharma, will he be able to perform proper devotion. Dedication arises only when the ego is demolished. The jiva has always been proud of whichever species he was born into and of whatever he got there. The animals and birds too are proud of the strengths they possess. This has been the habit of the jiva from infinity. This thing - ego, demands a lot of thought.
When broadly considered, (the question arises as to) what is an egoistic jiva nurturing an ego about? The jiva might be proud of the authority, the wealth or the power obtained in the material field. If he turns to the field of religion, he may feel proud of the few religious activities and rituals he has learnt. If he manages to acquire some rudimentary knowledge of the scriptures, then he will be proud of it. Thus in the material world, the jiva feels proud that - I am something and I have achieved something, and if I can achieve something it is because of my intellectual-abilities and I have achieved it with my own virtues.
But, in spite of having achieved all these so many times over, there is no deliverance for the jiva. Not only in the material field, but in the religious field too, the jiva has achieved all that there is to achieve, so many times, yet this has not helped the jiva in reducing even a single birth and as a result, the jiva continues to wander.
Whatever the achievements in the religious field, they will be beneficial for the atma only when total dedication awakens towards sudeva, suguru and sudharma. Otherwise, they are simply means to achieve external fame, reputation or accolades. Perhaps they will fetch fame and respect in a group of people, but without dedication the atma will not be benefited even a single percent.