Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 42

.... ĀTMĀ
The Self....
Then he acts on four Bhāvanās (feelings) :
i) Maitri : Amity: to develop a feeling of amity towards all beings. ii) Pramoda : Appreciation : a feeling of appreciation towards the
meritorious. iii) Karuņā : Compassion : a feeling of compassion towards those in
misery. iv) Mādhyastha : Equanimity : equanimity in instructing those who
have lost the true values and are averse to suggestions." . He visits the temple regularly, before entering, he sheds off all impure, unclean thoughts and thoughts of worldly material life. He enters and with a steady gaze on the Pratimā (The Image), which has been anointed by an Acārya (Leader of the Jaina Order)with the Eight Fundamental Attributes, (Ref. pg.9) which the pure soul has achieved, -"The Spiritual Zenith" (Siddhatva). Offers his prayers and rituals and opens his heart, makes a clean breast and with complete surrender asks for forgiveness. With an ardent desire he prays for His grace through the medium of the Pratimā, the strength to help him to, annihilate the Karmic forces (Ref.pg. 11) and achieve not a heavenly life, which is only a passing phase but the Eternal Salvation and be one equal to him.
Now he has faith in six initial Tenets : 1) The Self exists. 2) The Self is immortal. 3) The Self is its own doer. 4) The Self experiences the results of his own deeds - good or bad
through the body. 5) The 'Mökşa' exists. 6) There is a path to 'Mõkşa'.
The soul sallies forth and finds True Religion - Right conduct. The FOOTNOTE : Pratima : The Images are of two kinds : Siddha - Supreme Divine and the other Arihant Omniscient Teacher - arhat who at the annihilation of four Ghāti Karma (most destructive forces) acquires omniscience and twelve other special attributes as Tirthankaraarhat.
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