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SCHOOL OF
TIONAL
SELF STUDY IS THE
SUPREME AUSTERITY
AN STUDIES
aversions, infatuation, worry, conceit, hatred, uneasiness, sweat, sleep, and surprise (18 blemishes) is called a God.
He who is the enjoyer of the highest status, who is of unsurpassed splendor, who is free from all kinds desires and impurities of sin, who is endowed with omniscience and devoid of beginning, middle & end and who is a friend savior of all kinds of living beings - such a Teacher is called 'Hitopadesi (who gives useful discourses showing the path of liberation).
Just as a drum gives you out sound in consequence of the contact of the drummer's hand, but without any desire on its own part, so does the teacher reveal the truth without any personal motives of his own.
That one is true scripture which is the word (revelation) of omniscient Tirthamkara, which cannot be over-ridden in disruption, nor falsified by perception, reason or testimony, which reveals the nature of things, which is helpful to men, animals and all other kinds of beings and which is potent enough to destroy all forms of falsehood.
That preceptor (monk) is praiseworthy who has no desires for sensual pleasures, who has renounced all worldly occupations and possessions and who is always absorbed in study, meditation and self-contemplation. (Only such a capable soul-monk with right faith knowledge & conduct can attain omniscience and none else).
Also Samantabhadra has described the characteristics of Right Knowledge as under:
That which reveals the nature of things/substances/elements neither insufficiently, nor with aggression nor perversely but exactly as it is / as they are and with certainty, that the knower of scriptures call Right Knowledge. Based on this definition the adage -"Be wise, do not be over wise, do not be under wise and do not be otherwise", is prevalent in ethics.
The Third Jewel of the right path to liberation is observing of Right Conduct and it has been described by Samantabhadra as under:
To whom Right Knowledge has accrued by virtue of the acquisition of right faith on the destruction of Right Faith on the destruction of the darkness of faith - obstructing infatuation that excellent soul begins to practice the rules of Right Conduct to get rid of personal likesdislikes (attachment-aversion) that is to attain to the state of desirelessness.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0