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 364

... there resides Atmarth!
Only such a jiva in whom the craving for liberation has arisen can pursue the three fold path. Srimadji has called those jivas as Atmurthi who want to merge with their Self.
We are analysing the characteristics of an Atmarthi jiva. Thinking about the ability that rests in the Atmarthi pleases our mind. Ah! What an interest! What faith! The powers gained are being utilised for the benefit of the Soul : the search for Sadguru and the motive of the search - awakening of the worthy state of the Soul and through that its purification - Shuddhi and then attainment - Siddhi.
Now Srimadji tells us how ideal the internal state of an Atmarthi is -
कषायनी उपशांतता, मात्र मोक्ष अभिलाष,
à U stuîGet i Bryte ftare .....36 The identification of a Samyagdarshani Soul is through these five characteristics - Sama, sanveg, nirved, anukampa and astha.
In this Gatha, the virtues that form the ground for these characteristics have been mentioned. The subjugation of passions is sama, shama or upashama. The total destruction of passions happens only at the end of the twelfth gunasthana. But here we have a Sadhaka who is just at the beginning of his pursuit. Hence, he has to understandingly, thoughtfully, awaken the search for the Soul, and under the refuge of the passionless form of firm faith, subdue the passions, dilute them, burn them out, and pacify them. In the ashes of simple and straightforward beliefs has the fire of passions been put out. But this ash is so powerful that it does not let the heat of the fire be felt.
It is not that such jivas do not ever have a flare up of passions; but they are vigilant, and they do not get involved in the udaya. Sometimes there is a lapse in the vigilance, and the udaya