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PREFACE
Acarya Samantabhadra – The Master of Philosophical Reasoning
evotion to a deity without proper assessment and understanding
of its praiseworthiness leads to naught in terms of utility. Blind faith based on traditional values and without the use of own power of discrimination leads to superstitions. Superstitions arise from ignorance and keep the worshipper overwhelmed with expectations and fear, just the opposite of the very purpose of adoration. Adoration is laudable only if it renders tranquility and equanimity to the mind of the worshipper.
Ācārya Samantabhadra had investigated the attributes required of a praiseworthy deity in his reasoning-based composition, Aptamīmāṁsā. The opening verse avers:
देवागमनभोयानचामरादिविभूतयः । मायाविष्वपि दृश्यन्ते नातस्त्वमसि नो महान् ।। 1 ।। Symbols of majesty like the coming down of heavenly beings, movement in the sky, and waving of whisks do not make you our worshipful lord; these symbols of majesty can be found in deceitful jugglers too.
He goes on to establish, in the same treatise, the logic of accepting the Tīrthankara as the most worthy Supreme Being:
स त्वमेवासि निर्दोषो युक्तिशास्त्राविरोधिवाक् । अविरोधो यदिष्टं ते प्रसिद्धेन न बाध्यते ।। 6 ।। Only you, whose words are unopposed to logic and the Scripture, are free from all faults. Your words are not opposed to proof and lead to the desired goal (of liberation).
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