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of Sunlekhana. Both the adjectives here indicate that Sanlekhana is the final practice of ascetic life and it is practiced till the end of life.
Importance and Qualities of Santekhana
Sanlekhana is an important practice of ascetic life. This practice ends all sorrows and troubles of the seeker.
At the time of accepting Sanlekhana vow the seeker begs forgiveness of all beings und abandoning base feelings like animosity, malice and hostility dwells in equanimity. He does not allow conflicting feelings to creep into his mind and dwells in feelings of fraternity.
He is neither afraid of death nor desires death. As he lived an ideal life so he embraces ideal death artfully. He considers death to be ceremonious not fearful.
In fact only those persons are afraid of death who are not aware of the meaning of death. Those who have not done meritorious deeds, have indulged only in sinful activities are afraid because of the apprehension that the next incarnation will bring grave sorrows to them. To such people death appears to be filled with darkness and tormenting. On the other hand those who lead a religious life, who are not slaves of hopes, desires and ambitions, who are not bitten by the serpent like craving, find death as normal an activity as changing old dress with new.
A seeker devoted to the practice of Sanlekhana desires neither life nor death, he neither desires appreciation in this life nor pleasures in the next. He has no craving for carnal pleasures as well. He remains aloof from all these and embraces a peaceful and serene death.
Types of Death
In this context it is necessary to know about the types of death. There are two main categories (1) Sakam-maran, and (2) Akam-maran. In other words-0) Undesired
(2) Desired death. Another name of these two are--(1) Baal-maran (ignorant's death), and (2) Pundit-maran (scholar's death). It is Pundit-maran that is popularly known as Samadhi-maran or meditative death.
There are numerous sub-categories of Baal-maran which is generally the fate of all undisciplined and ignorant beings. In Bhagavati Sutra and other Agams 12 types of Baalmaran have been mentioned. But in the modern progressive materialistic glamorous world, filled with miracles of science, the types of Baal-maran have multiplied.
In brief Baal-maran is embracing death under excitement of intense passions with a hope to be rid of the extant troubles and desire of pleasure in the next birth.
Antakriddasha Mahima
• 399 .
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