Awakening

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 88

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covering the soul falls off, the soul will become gradually brighter and brighter.
In the world, life oscillates between the passions of love and hate, like the pendulum of a clock. Man can attain peace of mind only by surrendering himself to the Lord who is the very embodiment of detachment. Only he can row the boat of our life across the ocean of Samsar. If you have faith in the Lord; if you have devotion for him; and if you are dedicated to his ideals, you can cross easily not only the ocean of life but also the ocean of mortal existence. The great Jainach arya, Sri Manathunga Soori has expressed the same idea in the Adinath Stotra (Bhaktamar):
“ Even sailors who sail in boats or ships swaying on the tops of the highest waves of the sea which is terrible on account of the crocodiles, whales, and other sea-creatures and sea-fire, cross the sea without experiencing any difficulties or dangers by praying to the Lord.”
Once, a ship full of passengers was sailing on an ocean. Suddenly a terrible storm rose. On account of the storm, the ship began to sway dangerously. Seeing this, a Shrawak (a pious Jain ) sat meditating on the Lord. His wife said to him “ The time has come for being drowned in the sea and for dying; not for meditation."