________________
288
I am the Soul
physically manifest, such omniscient Prabhu is the Parmatma - the supreme soul.
This is the ultimate and supreme state of a jiva. Since infinite time this jiva is stuck in the state of the outward soul, but his ultimate goal is the state of Supreme Soul. The bridge that takes across is the state of inner soul. It is impossible to attain the state of the Supreme Soul without experiencing the state of the inner soul. Indeed, the state of the inner soul is the state of tremendous effort. Unless and until the tremendous effort of the Self has not manifest itself, there is also a scope for other options. Hence, for a jiva in search of the Atma - an atmarthi jiva - it is essential to have a great able sadhaka, who has attained the state of the inner soul as his Sadguru. If he is not found, then the inspiration for the path of the tremendous effort is not received.
Hence the atmarthi's faith towards a guru rests in such a Muni, and he continues to dedicatedly remain in the refuge of the Muni's charan (feet). But the atmarthi is not stubborn. All jivas should insist that truth prevails, but where the insistence for untruth comes, the jiva's downward journey begins. Therefore, Srimadji says that atmarthi jiva should not cling on with a false attachment, feeding his sense of attachment by believing the traditional family guru to be his guru. Of course, if this guru too is living in the Munidasha, then he may be believed. But the stubborn attitude that I shall not let go of my tradition, should not be adopted by the Atmarthi. For an atmarthi is devoted to virtues and not to persons. On whosoever the Munidasha has dawned, he alone is an Atmajnani - why was it said so?
In our tradition, a Muni has to abide by five Mahavrats, five Samitis and three Guptis. The first among the Mahavrats was that of abiding by Non-violence. In that the feeling of Irya was told and the first of the Samitis was termed Irya Samiti, which teaches how to walk. The Prabhu had ordered that when a Muni walks he should walk looking down with an eagle-like sight. He
Jain Educationa International
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org