I am The Soul Part 02

SR No.: 006791
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association
Total Pages: 466
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 435

I am the Soul
785
It occurs to the jiva that 'this jiva is making me a nimitta and transiting into imbalance. The pitiable jiva is going to suffer extreme consequences.' So thinking the former jiva develops compassion and adopts forgiveness in its atma. In the scriptures, among the ten dharmas of the Shramanas, the first to be listed is khanti or kshama. That is why many of our earlier Acharyas used to be called Kshamashramana. Those, in whom the great characteristic of forgiveness has awakened, do not take long to awaken the remaining nine.
A mumukshu who is endowed with all these characteristics has an unwavering faith in the principle of sat. Sat means atma. The awareness that 'I am the Soul' is constantly prevailing in it and therefore the jiva is always in a state of svadaya. Where svadaya prevails, there no iniquity can find refuge. For iniquity is the passionate state of jiva. Passions never offer any happiness or peace. They offer sorrow and disturbance. How can such a stable and devoted jiva harbour any passions at all? As a result, the five main sins of violence, untruth, stealing, adultery and aspiration will never arise. Where sat is the goal, where sat is the conduct, in their life, speech and thought there can only be satya - truth.
Renunciation comes easy to the atma desirous of sat. It does not have to consciously try to sacrifice. For the possessiveness and attachment over things and subjects diminishes and therefore, renunciation comes naturally. And along with renunciation, there is always the rejection in the form of discontent with the material world and attachment etc. Thus, renunciation - tyaga and rejection - vairagya both are bound to be in the life of a mumukshu.
Therefore, Srimadji has, in the opening gathas of Atmasiddhi Shastra, given us a lucid description of renunciation and rejection. Here too, he says that a mumukshu jiva is always alert about these characteristics. Deep within its self, these characteristics