________________
253
Ätmasiddhi
Deh Chhatän Jeni Dashä, Varte Dehätit; Te Jnäninä Charanmän, Ho Vandan Aganit.
My innumerable obeisance be
at the feet of the enlightened, who behaves transcendentally even though being embodied.
- 142
Explanation & Discussion:
While commencing this composition, the obeisance was offered to the enlightened Guru. That was done for securing his blessing for the work. Since that work is now over, the obeisance is offered to the enlightened entities, staying beyond the physical mode while being embodied. Such entities are mainly the omniscient Lords, who are in the transcendental state. Of course, it is hard to explain that state verbally. However, one can try to comprehend the same in terms of the ladder of spiritual elevation
There are 14 stages of elevation, which are analogous to the rungs of a ladder. The ascendance on the ladder is mainly in the form of overcoming delusion. Most of the worldly souls are under delusion since time immemorial. They are ignorant of their true Self, and as such their perception remains deluded. They are used to reacting to different situations with craving or aversion. This leads to the acquisition of Karma, and for bearing the consequences thereof, they continue to take birth after birth. The life cycle has thus been going on since That cannot stop, unless the soul learns about its true Self. This is the baseline of the ladder or the 1st stage, known as Mithyätva.
The perception-related delusion is overcome in the 4th stage, at the time of gaining right perception. As the aspirant
lain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary:org