Mahavira Jayanti Smarika 1975

SR No.: 014031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhanvarlal Polyaka
Publisher: Rajasthan Jain Sabha Jaipur
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 446
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 11 MB

Page 383

called partial purgation since here the aspirant avoids intentional Himsa of two to five sensed Jivas, but he has to commit the intentional Himsa of one-sensed Jivas, namely the vegetable bodied, fire bodied etc. Besides, the Himsa which is committed in being engaged in a certain profession in performing domestic activities, and in adopting defensive measures cannot be avoided by him. Afterwards, the aspirant, being motivated by certain incentives to spiritual life (Anuprakasa) becomes a saint in order to negate Himsa to the last degree. In consequence, the saint observes five Mahavratas and practises internal and external austerities with special attention to meditation, devotion, and Svadhyaya. Besides, he gets food by begging, eats only a little, gets over sleep, endures troubles, practises universal friendship, adheres to spiritual upliftment, and turns away from acquisitions, associations and life-iujuring activities. Thus from the life of saint, vice totally vanishes and there remains virtue which will also be trancended as soon as the flight into the realm of spirit is made.
3. Illumination
By the time the aspirant reaches this stage, he has developed a power of spiritual attention, of selfmerging and of gazing into the ground of the soul. It is through the aid of deep meditation that the mystic now pursues the higher path. Pujyapada rightly observes that meditation produces supreme ecstasy in a mystic who is firmly established in the self. Such an ecstatic consciousness is potent enough to burn the Karmic fuel; and then the person remains unaffected by external trouble and never experiences discomposure. In consequence, he moves. higher where exists the state of profound purity. If the self follows the process of annihilition instead of suppression it rises directly to transcendental life. Here the conduct deluding Karma is destroyed instead of being suppressed.
4. Dark night of the soul post-illumination
Owing to the suppressed passions gaining strength the illuminated consciousness falls either to total darkness or to the stage of spiritual awakening. The consequence is that the ecstatic awareness of the transcendental self gets negated and an overwhelming sense of darkness envelops the mystic. It may be noted that not all mystics experience this dark night. Those of them who ascend the ladder of annihilation escape this tragic period, whereas those who ascend the Ladder of suppression succumb to its dangers and pains. Mystics of the latter type no doub. will also reach the pinnacle of transcendental life, but only when they climb up the ladder of annihilation either in this life or in some other to come.
Transcendental life
The slumbering and the unawakened soul, after passing through the stages of spiritual awakening, moral and intellectual preparation, now arrives at the
5.