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सचित्र उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र
Bellaist 3782147 [352]
ASHTAVIMSH ADHYAYAN : MOKSHA-MAARG-GATI
Foreview
The name of this chapter is-Moksha-maarg-gati or Endeavour on the Path of Liberation.
Moksha or liberation is the goal for a knotless ascetic. Marg or path or means to attain that is the combination of right knowledge, right faith, right conduct and right austerity. Gati is the endeavour or the persistent pursuit by the aspirant.
It is essential to use means to attain goal. If the goal is understood but the means to attain it are not used, the goal cannot be attained. Even when the means are in hand and still the aspirant does not move towards the goal and endeavour to attain it, reaching the goal is still impossible. Therefore, in order to gain liberation it is essential to have the means as well as the efforts to employ them.
There are four means to attain liberation--knowledge, perception/faith, conduct and austerities. Among these the first means is knowledge, right knowledge. The soul cognizes the fundamentals defined by the Jina—soul and matter (karmas). Through the same means it becomes aware and understands the form of six substances.
By means of perception/faith it develops unwavering faith and belief in the nine fundamentals recognized by means of knowledge—(1) jiva or soul, (2) ajiva or non-soul (matter), (3) punya or merit, (4) paap or demerit, (5) asrava or karmic-inflow, (6) samvar or blocking of karmicinflow, (7) bandh or karmic-bondage, (8) nirjara or shedding of karmas, and (9) moksha or liberation.
There are ten sentiments (intents) that enrich righteousness or right perception/faith. Right conduct is to cleanse the soul of the malignancy of karmas by means of restraining the maligning factors including attachment and aversion as well as sensual indulgences and passions (chayarittakaram chaarittam).
Austerity is the act of introvert scalding that partially burns the karmas accumulated in the past. It helps shedding of karmas accumulated during the extended series of millions of rebirths.
When all karmas are destroyed all the intrinsic virtues of the aspirant are in full bloom and he attains liberation.
All this description is based on conventional viewpoint. Considered from the nonconventional or real viewpoint the firm awareness and belief in pristine nature of soul is right perception/faith, cognition of pristine form of soul is right knowledge and to remain engrossed in attributes of soul is right conduct and that is the path of liberation.
Right knowledge is described in the first 14 verses of this chapter; right faith in verses 15 to 31, right conduct in verses 32 and 33, right austerities in verse 34, and the usefulness of all the four means is described in verse 35.
Thus the process of attaining liberation by an aspirant is described in this chapter. The chapter has 36 verses.
