Apoorva Avasar

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 5

form of comforts, amenities and tastes, and avail of the facilities, which are made available with the advancement of science. Instead of laying limits on the possessions, we have been trying to procure more of them.
We are now so accustomed to a comfortable life that we can hardly think of dispensing with any amenity. The concept of giving up the comfortable life may therefore seem unacceptable. If, however, one thinks at depth, he can make out that possession is not the source of happiness. Happiness lies within and no external factor can make us happy or unhappy. Desire is the root cause of unhappiness and that being insatiable, no amount of possession can satisfy it. The only way is to remain contented with what one gets at ease and not to hanker for more. It is the sense of possession and the desire for more that keeps us bound to the worldly life. The seers have consistently observed that possession constitutes a barrier in undertaking the spiritual pursuit. As such, every spiritual aspirant needs to give up attachment for the worldly amenities and stay satisfied with a simple mode of life.
The internal possessions mainly consist of indulgence in defiling instincts. Traditionally they are specified of the following fourteen types, viz. wrong perception, craving, aversion, anger, arrogance, deception, greed, affection, disaffection, undue laughter, mourning, fright, despise and sexual impulse. They hurt the soul more than the external ones. As such, the spiritual pursuit mainly consists of the endeavor to control those instincts. One can be considered a Nirgranth only when he fully overcomes them.
After becoming a Nirgranth one has to proceed on the path treaded by Lord Tirthankars and other great men. That is the path of liberation. For that purpose one needs to be free from all the worldly connections. Attachment and concern for the body, relatives etc. are the principal factors that lead to the worldly connections. All those connections are essentially ephemeral and do not stay forever. Even the life-long connections have to be given up at the time of death. One therefore needs to realize their ephemeral nature and to give up attachment for them. One thus needs to stay away from every type of worldly connection.
2) Sarva Bhävathi Audäsinyavrutti Kari, Mätra Deh Te Sanyamhetu Hoy Jo: Anya Kärane Anya Kashun Kalpe Nahin, Dehe Pan Kinchit Moorchchhä Nav Joy Jo. Apoorva.
By adopting an objective attitude towards all the situations, we may be holding the body only for the sake of restraint without the slightest attachment for it and aspire for nothing else on any other account. When?
All types of attitudes and inclinations, good as well as bad, lead to bondage, good ones lead to the bondage of wholesome Karma and bad ones to that of unwholesome Karma. A spiritual aspirant knows that all of them need to be avoided. As such, he would not long for any particular situation. By virtue of the previous Karma, one is going to get situations like a strong and healthy or a weak and ailing body, the respectable or disrespectful family, amicable or quarrelsome spouse, bright or dumb children etc. The spiritual aspirant would not develop attachment or resentment for them. In other words, he would not feel elated in favorable circumstances nor feel depressed in unfavorable ones.
Embodiment occurs on account of Karma. The worldly soul has obtained different types of bodies from time to time. Getting a human body is very rare and is obtained as the consequence of much wholesome Karma. Since we have obtained it, we should make use of it for pursuing the objective of liberation. Otherwise, we are going to drift in the unfathomable ocean of birth and death. The human life is valuable particularly because of Vivek (discernment) associated with it. If we do not exercise Vivek and lead an unconcerned, impulsive life, we would be wasting the precious life. It is therefore necessary to make the right use of the body.
The spiritual pursuit has to be undertaken while being in the body. Making right use of the body therefore involves taking reasonable care of it. If one is afflicted with a disease or is otherwise infirm, his mind would most probably remain engrossed with the idea of pain and misery associated with that. As such, it would be hard for him to think of spiritual pursuit. It is therefore helpful to keep the body in a reasonably fit condition so as to enable us to undertake spiritual pursuit. That does not mean that one should pamper it or develop undue attachment for it. It should be made use of for realizing the soul.