________________
DISCOURSE XLIV
RIGHT KNOWLEDGE
(Navapadaji)
Gentlemen,
Prowess of nine secret phrases is very great in Jain religion with uninterrupted and time-defying glory, and that is why these nine phrases are constantly and regularly being propitiated. These nine phrases begin with Namo Ari Hantanam as the first and Namo Siddhanam as the second phrase referring to Gods, while Namo Ayarianam, Namo Uvajjayanam and Namo Loe Savvasahunam refer to the preceptor and Namo Dansanassa, Namo Nanassa, Namo Tavasso refer to the holy creed. Thus nine sacred phrases refer to significant attributes belonging to true god, true precreptor and true religion.
First phrase which refers to religion deals with intuition, second deals with knowledge, third deals with conduct and fourth one deals with penance. We had ample discussions about intuition. Intuition means right insight-right belief. Now following the proper order, we intend to hold some discussion about knowledge referred to in the second phrase, which you should listen with concentration.
We stress here on concentration of mind, because many good fellows arrive here with gusto, but due to their wavering mind, they cannot grasp the subject discussed here. Meditation or reflection over a subject is not possible in the absence of proper grasping of a subject.
Holy texts declare that proper knowledge about fundamental substances like soul, nonsouls etc. is possible through the process of listening to scriptural discussions from the mouth of an ideal preceptor, and as a consequence, distinguished knowledge to recognise intrinsic nature of soul is obtained, but such distinguished knowledge does not arise in the absence of listening to the holy scriptures with concentrated mind.
Some people state "we strive best to concentrate our mind, but the fickle mind becomes uncontrollable. Kindly show us some way
501
