Page Text
________________
there is no disturbance, contemplate on the real nature of the self and thus know the true spirit in one's own self. When one's knowledge is purified it is nothing but Kevala-jñāna. This knowledge according to him is not the knowledge of the substances but the purified knowledge of the self.
Śrīmad's teachings were full of devotion. It means that a person true to his teacher is fully devotional to him and devotion to teacher is devotion to God because only a pious teacher can impart the true teaching of tīrthamkaras and the Scriptures. This devotion, which his teachings express, is the devotion to a living person.
Really speaking the period from the 9th century to the 12th century was very important from the point of view of various changes that were taking place in the course of conduct of a layman. It was a time when rituals were getting into prominence in place of the basic principles of religion. People were looking for various forms and manners of performing divine services, as a result the code of ceremony and performances of rites were gaining popularity. As the quotation describes the bhakti in traditional Jainism means divine service (mainly in the form of rituals) which is totally different from what he meant by surrender.
The present times are very hard and very unfavorable for the practice of spirituality and sadguru or satpuruşa are very rare to be found. śrīmad therefore said at many places in his writings that if no such sadguru is available, one should worship such things and places and study such scriptures as would increase the sentiments (bhāva) of passionlessness (vairāgya), and subsidence of Kasāyas (attachment, aversion etc)
The association of such sadguru must result in changing one's life in due course. This changing of life suggests the attaining of samyaktva. He says, "An aspirant must find out a satpurusa at any cost and totally surrender to him and devote himself with all his might. This will destroy all his passions and desires because such a person, who has realized his soul, can only help him achieve self-realization. He further says that to accomplish sat (truth), one has to come in touch with the embodiment of sat, and that is the satpurusa."
"He unconditionally declares that it is not essential to belong to any faith or system or religion because anything, which helps us know our self and remain with and realize the self is the best of religions for us and whatever distracts us away from our self, is non-religion for us. The moment we forget our self, we go under the control of our mind, desires and passions,
Page 102 of 317
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
| SR No. | 007711 |
| Book Title | ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | International School for Jain Studies |
| Publisher | International School for Jain Studies |
| Publication Year | 2013 |
| Total Pages | 352 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 21 MB |