Book Title: Art of Enlightenment
Author(s): Kalpana Desai
Publisher: Kalpana Desai

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Page 24
________________ WORSHIP PRAYER AND MEDITATION Jainism recommends ways of liberating oneself from unhappiness caused by one's karmas. It consists of worship of Tirthankaras, study of scriptures, visiting pilgrimage places which commemorate the physical presence of the Jinas and other liberated beings to be inspired and strengthened by them. Reciting prayers in the form of sutras and mantras and if need be worship and meditate upon the yantras which are visualized forms of certain mantras. These are deeply symbolical and help the devotee to discipline his mind more easily and gradually enable him to attain a state of enlightenment. Sometimes however, these are used for the fulfillment of one's material desires also. These are some of the means a seeker can start with, The final emancipation comes through a guru, a living liberated soul whose help and blessings are invaluable for a seeker. That is why we find the illustration of the gurupaduka, footprints of the guru in every yantra. 23 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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