Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 21

ĀTMĀ "The Self....
and contentment of my mind and inner-self in spite of the rigours of a Jaina Monk. I must confess that even with the discourses and studies, my knowledge of Jainism is a mere drop in the ocean. Jainism does not belong to any particular sect or fixed dogmas. It emphasizes equality of opportunities to achieve freedom and spiritual perfection, high born or lowest form of life. It is a vast philosophy of thoughts.
It is invaluable to all, whatever religion one follows, with spiritual understanding and practice, the Soul can achieve the "Zenith" of Spiritual Glory" (New Goch Goal.
We have to face death, someday, leaving everyone and everything behind. With control over desires and reduction, restraint on our needs, with love and reverence for the life of all living beings, we ca. face death anytime, anywhere, with equanimity and with confidence that the "Soul" is immortal. It is only the outer shell (body) that will perish, and the soul will acquire a new body.
With a keen desire to share my experience of a beginner, with readers, I have consented to write a brief note, which indicates only some of the salient features. The aim of this small book has been just to create interest in readers in the study of Ātmā - The self in Jaina philosophy. If a few of the readers sincerely accept the path, I will consider my work as fulfilled and thus will be a help to me towards my goal.
This treatise has been prepared on the basis of discourses of Pūjya Ācārya Srimad Vijaya Rāmacandra Sūriśvaraji Maharaja, and Pūjya Muniśri Kirtiyaśa Vijayaji Ganivara and with my very limited knowledge of Jainism.
I wish to express my gratitude to Pūjya Muniśri Kirtiyaśa Vijayaji Ganivara for giving me the facilities to go through "Lokaprakāśa, Jiva - Vicāra, Karmagrantha, Adhyātmasāra, Navatatva Prakaraña, Sambodha Sittari, Yogaśāstra, and also attend to his important discourses and in addition... the following English publications on Jainism for perusal, 1 have benefited from the comments and for which I am grateful.
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