________________
239
Ätmasiddhi
Ägal Jnäni Thai Gayä, Vartamänmän Hoy, Thashe Käl Bhavishyamän, Märgabhed Nahi Koy.
There had been enlightened persons
in the past, they are at present, they will be in the future; but their paths are not different in any way.
Explanation & Discussion:
While discussing the last stanza, it was pointed out that in view of the different beliefs of sects and sub-sects, one should accept what the enlightened person says. In that connection, it is here said that enlightened beings arise in every epoch. We know from history that there were such entities in past, and there are such entities at present also, though we may not be aware of them. For instance, when Shrimad was alive in the 19th century, very few people knew that he was enlightened. Thus, our unawareness does not mean that there cannot be such entities now. Similarly, they are bound to arise in the future. All of them describe the same path. There is no difference in their outlook. There is only one path of liberation. The objective is to be free from the continuing cycle of birth and death, and the path for that purpose is right insight and the endeavor to stay away from attachment and resentment.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org