________________
203
Ätmasiddhi
કેવળ નિજસ્વભાવનું, અખંડ વર્તે જ્ઞાન; કહીએ કેવળજ્ઞાન તે, દેહ છતાં નિર્વાણ,
1199311
Keval Nij Swabhävanun, Akhand Varte Jnän; Kahie Kevaljnän Te, Deh Chhatän Nirvän.
When there prevails uninterrupted awareness of one's nature exclusively, that is termed as omniscience which is liberation despite embodiment.
- 113
Explanation & Discussion:
The state of total detachment laid down in the last stanza enables the person to stay aware of his true nature. When such awareness becomes exclusive and remains uninterrupted, that itself is termed as Kevaljnän or omniscience. Thus total detachment is the precursor of omniscience. Here the question may arise, "The Jain tradition conceives of Kevaljnän as a totally blissful state with the capability to know infinitely, to perceive infinitely, and be illumined of everything in the universe, past, present, and future. As such, would the concept laid here not be at variance with that traditional concept?"
By its own nature, the pure soul is inherently imbibed with infinite knowledge, infinite perception, and infinite bliss. But those properties are implicit in remaining aware of its true nature. The question therefore remains of illumination. For that purpose, let us first understand how the illumining capability
Jain Education International
Fon Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
