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## Friend's View: The Cause and the Instrument
(157)
While the soul itself is the cause, it is not the cause in the same way as the instrument. All souls are inherently equal in their potential for liberation, but this potential is realized through the instrument. For the manifestation of this inherent potential, for the cause to become the effect, the instrument is absolutely necessary. Without the proper instrument, even after an infinite time, liberation will never be attained, and the cause will not manifest. Similarly, by neglecting the cause and only relying on the instrument, liberation cannot be achieved. Both must work together for liberation to occur.
"The cause is within you, the instrument is the pure devotion to the Jinas...worship the Jinas.
The cause is the Lord, the instrument is the devotion to the Jinas...the Jinas are the source of liberation."
"The instrument is the Jinas, the nectar of equality,
The Lord is the source of liberation, the rules are the instruments...the Jinas are the source of liberation." - Shri Devchandraji
Therefore, those who only focus on the cause, the inherent potential, and neglect the instrument, will not attain liberation and will remain lost in delusion. This is the unchanging principle that the wise have declared. The commands of the Guru, the path of the Jinas, and the three jewels are the instruments. Without these instruments, without the worship of the Lord, self-realization cannot be attained. On this point, the supreme sage Shrimad Rajchandraji has said:
"All souls are inherently equal, those who understand this will be liberated; the commands of the Guru, the path of the Jinas, are the instruments. Those who only focus on the cause and neglect the instrument,
Will not attain liberation and will remain lost in delusion." - Shri Atmasiddhi
In other words, "The commands of the Guru, etc., are the instruments for self-realization, and the knowledge of the soul, etc., are the cause. This is what the scriptures say. Therefore, those who only focus on the cause and neglect the instrument will not attain liberation and will remain lost in delusion. This is because the scriptures do not mention the cause without the instrument, but even if the instrument is present, without the cause, it will not work. Therefore, the true meaning is to use the instrument to bring the cause to the forefront, and not to neglect the instrument."
- Shrimad Rajchandra
• When it is said "the three jewels arise", it means that their form is being explained.