Agam 26 Prakirnak 03 Maha Pacchakhana Sutra

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 40

unaccomplished (those who do not so employ their bodies, minds and speech in spiritually beneficial activities), the author says that even a learned aspirant, who is given to sensual pleasures, one of faulty character, and who is not used to spiritual practices is bound to lose patience when his death comes. Such a person is unable to bear the hardships at the time of death. However, one, who is not attached to the mundane pleasures, who is free from the desire for future and whose passions have been overcome is not perturbed when the death stares him in the face. On the contrary he welcomes death and meets it with equanimity. (85-93) (Actually, this is the much-vaunted state of equanimity in death. Every follower of the Jaina faith desires that he be fortunate enough to be free of all misery, attachment, and aversion at the final moment of his life and be able to maintain peace and equipoise at the time of his death)
PREFACE : XXXIX
Clarifying the mystery about the peaceful death (Samadhimarana), the author says that its cause is neither the straw-bed (Samstāraka) nor the flawless ground on which it is laid, but it is the soul with purity of thought that itself is the Samstāraka or the bed of Samādhimaraṇa. In other words, the soul that has conquered the four passions attains such a death. (96)
Further, it has been said that even for a very learned aspirant it is not possible to recall all scriptural learning at the time of his death. Actually, for e ery one there is some phrase or the other which is the essence of all his spiritual learning that he always remembers and which will be his saviour at the time of his death. The aspirant must make it a point that he doesn't lose sight of such a phrase throughout his life. (101-106).
In the next verse the law (Dharma) propounded by the omniscient Jinas has been said to be spiritually beneficial and that