Jain Journal 2001 10

SR No.: 520144
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 49
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 39

BRAHMESHANANDA : BHAKTI IN JAINISM
91
As cows roam about in the forest to graze,
but their minds remain
attached to their calves; So may my mind ever remain
attached to the feet of the Jina (perfected teacher) even while I am engaged in worldly duties.
As desire always occupies
the mind of the lustful, may my mind too remain occupied
with the Lord's name. 8 All attachment and love, be it for an ordinary imperfect mortal or for a liberated perfected Jina, is, according to Jainism, a potential cause of bondage. How then can there be love for the Jina? This question has been answered by Jain ācāryas variously. Acārya Samantabhadrao is of the opinion that just as a tiny drop of poison cannot poison the vast expanse of water in an ocean, similarly the great benefits derived from loving the Jina cannot be tarnished by a tiny speck of sin incurred due to love. A more plausible explanation is that the Jina, being established in his eternally pure and free nature, is identical with the Supreme Self (param-ätman). Hence to love him is to love our own natural free state. It is implied here that the Jina must not be considered a personality. To love him as a person i cause of bondage. He must be seen as the Ideal embodied.
According to Lord Mahāvira himself, love is a hindrance in the path of liberation. An emotional person may take recourse to love towards a Jina to overcome his passionate human love, but ultimately he will have to get over even this purer, sublime love. The story of Gautama illustrates this fact beautifully. In spite of being the foremost disciple of Lord Mahāvira, Gautama did not get the highest knowledge and mokşa, or liberation, owing to his intense personal attachment to the Teacher, whereas other disciples, much junior to him, got liberated by listening to the teachings of Mahavira. To destroy this attachment, Lord Mahāvīra sent Gautama away from him just before his passing away. Not being able to remain at the side of the Lord at the time of death gave a rude shock to Gautama and broke his attachment. He was forthwith liberated.
7. Perfected teacher, Tirthankara; jina, lit., 'the conqueror. 8. Anandaghana, Anandaghanapada-sangraha, Adhyatma Jnana
Prasaraka Mandala, Bombay. Quoted by Premsagar Jain, p. 9. 9. Quoted by Premsagar Jain, p. 10.
raha adhyapma Jnane