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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
You daily recite Namoththunam Sutra as a prayer of Lord Arihamta. What are the adjectives used therein qualifying the emancipated state. Many blessed fellows recite the apothegm very fluently but they never ponder over the meaning of what they recite. Thus they do not know what is intended to be conveyed and what is not intended.
The apothegm must be recited with all tenderness of feelings and this is not possible unless you realise the meaning. The terms in Namoththunam apothegms are pregnant with profound meaning which has been explained by the leading monk Shri Haribhadravijayji in the commentary on chaitya vandana in Lalit Vistara. The tottering faith of Shri Siddharshigani was affirmed on perusing this commentary. Many other devoted souls had affirmed their faith in their devotion of Lord Jineshvara.
In the apothegm Namoththunam Arihanta gods are qualified as Siddhi Gai Nama dheyam Thanam Sampattanam', i.e. All the Arihanta gods have acquired the state of the accomplished ones (Siddhas). After the word 'Siddhi Gai' the words "Siramaya"-etc. follow, which qualify the emancipated condition of the soul. That condition or state is 'Achala' i.e. stable or immovable (unaffected). It is 'Aruyam' i.e. without any ailment or grievance. Physical body is the abode of all ailments, and grievances arise from the impure mind. Body and the mind are no more in that state and consequently ailments or grievances do not find their scope.
That state is ‘Ananta' i.e. eternal-unending. It is 'Arrabham' i.e. unobstructed. No tortures arising from actions prevail there. It is 'Apunaraviti' i.e. a place from which no one can return.
If the pure soul unbound by the ties of deeds is again presumed to be bound by deeds, then emancipation would cease to be the centre of eternal bliss as in that case the soul would be susceptible to the ties of actions any time and would fall a prey to miseries. Moreover what is the purpose in achieving salvation which does not secure for us the eternal state of bliss ? No man of wisdom would strive for such temporary salvation. Religion, which is practised to acquire salvation would also turn out futile. Thus assumption of beginning of ties of actions binding the pure soul leads to numberless absurdities and hence the presumption of soul blemished with actions since the times immemorial.
