________________
TRUE SUCCESS IN LIFE one who accomplishes this heroic task, attains to the Supreme Status. One becomes a liberated soul, experiences infinite and Supreme bliss and destroys all the bonds of birth and death.
PRACTICE IN LIFE FOR THE HIGHEST SUCCESS
Even though it is difficult to practice the path of such supreme success in our life, still when viewed from another angle, it is simple, straight- forward and self-dependent in attainment. Great people, therefore have propounded that all individuals have the potential capacity to practice it and to accomplish it.
The means to accomplish the goal are knowledge, character and devotion. For developing pure character, one should make an effort to practice the different noble virtues described earlier. One should also remain vigilant and be alert to see that one's righteous life does not get stigmatized by any blot.
Cultivation of right knowledge is essential for the acquisition of self-knowledge. Any activity that leads to pride, idleness, ill-health and attachment need to be set aside by Sadhaka with a strong willpower to acquire self-knowledge.
In the first stage of such advancement of knowledge, one should resort to frequent association with the noble people. Next, one should take the vow of individual self-study for a fixed-time, say from half an hour to three hours daily with a view to spiritual uplift. Let one read and ponder over, write and/or memorize the poetical or prose writings of the great Acharyas, depicting the moral laws, the lives of great people and the basic tenets of true religion.
This will lead to peace, enhanced power of understanding, moral excellence and a state of doubtlessness, leading to an all-round progress by leaps and bounds in the spiritual life of an aspirant. Along with this, one should also take the vow to worship God daily at a fixed time. When appropriately practiced, this will lead to intense love for the supreme virtues of God and of the noble preceptor. This will lead to the dawning of good virtues as are found in great noble people. This enhanced virtuosity is of fundamental importance in spiritual life.
The Sadhaka has got to become adventurous in his spiritual activity (Sadhana) at this stage. Let his food and clothing be
JIVANANI SACHI SAFALATA
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
157 www.jainelibrary.org
