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## Āgama Sūtra 39, Cheda Sūtra-5, 'Mahānishītha'
Study/Purpose/Sūtra Number Sūtra-527
O Gautama! All Tīrthankara devotees have practiced the same conduct as those who have eradicated all eight karmas. Sūtra-528-530
Those who are afraid of existence, wherever they go, wherever there is a possibility of harming living beings, such as touching them, and wherever there is a possibility of causing harm to themselves or others, their minds do not engage in such activities. Therefore, those who are restrained from harming themselves or others should practice such rituals that are beneficial in all ways. The only ritual that is the essence of the path to liberation, that is solitary, that gives happiness, and that reveals the ultimate truth is the conduct of complete renunciation. It is as follows: Sūtra-531-537
Imagine a Meru mountain, as high as a lakh yojanas, adorned with a sea of jewels, made of gold, extremely beautiful, pleasing to the eyes and mind, extremely knowledgeable, extremely strong, and invisible, joined together in such a way that it appears as if it were one, extremely smooth, with parts well-divided, with many peaks, with many bells and flags, with excellent toranas, where the beauty of the mountain or palace is visible as one walks step by step. Similarly, imagine incense made of camphor, sandalwood, etc., which emits a fragrance when placed in fire, well-decorated with many kinds of wonderful and beautiful flowers, filled with many kinds of dances, with sweet sounds of mridanga, filled with hundreds of people of good intentions, with people whose minds are filled with the desire to hear the character and teachings of Jineshvara Bhagavan, where stories are told, where there are commentators, dancers, apsaras, gandharvas, and the sounds of musical instruments are heard. This is the kind of world that is filled with the qualities mentioned above, where there are thousands of pillars made of gold, jewels, and gems, all earned through righteous means, and where the floor is made of gold. The temple of the Jina that is built with such qualities is said to be filled with many qualities of austerity and restraint. Sūtra-538-540
In this way, through austerity and restraint, one cleanses the dirt of the karmas accumulated over many existences, and attains liberation, which is full of infinite happiness, in a short time. Even if a devotee who practices the four kinds of beautiful Dharma, such as dana, etc., which adorn the entire earth with the Jina's teachings, attains the highest speed, he cannot go beyond the twelfth devlok. He can only go up to the twelfth devlok, which is called Achyuta. Sūtra-541-542
O Gautama! Even the gods who reside in the seventh devlok, called Sarvarthasiddha, fall from there. If we think about the rest, there is no permanent or stable place in the world. How can the present happiness be called happiness when it is followed by suffering after a long time? How can the happiness that is temporary and ends in death be considered great? Even if all the humans and gods are gathered together for a long time, they cannot experience or hear as much happiness as even a small part of the infinite happiness of liberation.
Sūtra-543-545
O Gautama! Within the happiness of this great world, there are thousands of terrible and fierce sufferings hidden. But those who are dull-witted cannot recognize them when the karmas that cause suffering arise. Even in a mountain of jewels and gold, there is iron hidden inside.
Muni Dīparatnasāgara Kṛt (Mahānishītha) Āgama Sūtra-Hindi Translation
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