________________
[ 2 ]
lives after lives are required. Obstructions of sins of the world accummalated due to past Karmas must be completely removed. The spheres of darkness enveloping the soul must be rent asunder. The tangled knot of Karmas requires to be straightened. Bold progress must be continued even after repeated shocks of failures. Without fear, without divergence, steps must be taken wholeheartedly towards that highest ideal which brings to hand the permanent, unfailing, immeasurable and invaluable store of spiritnal powers. One must go on ascending the steps that lead to that highest form of divine knowledge that is everlasting. limitless and beyond conception.
This is no easy task, no sleeping on soft couches. This is the hardest of the hardest tasks. Is it childs' play to deve lope the secret powers of the body soul and morality and to master the limitless knowledge and power. One must destroy the passions of this mortal body and counteract the inclinations of nature impressed by past lives. Then only the fitness of becoming a Tirthankar is first exhibited. First it is necessary that one must act according to the precepts of prophets with a clean, pure, and trutful mind. One must observe hard rules of morality that would make an ideal life. One must bring into practice the fivefold path of action. One must keep fasts and other difficult observances so that no trace of wicked thoughts would remain in the mind. One must practise hard penance, must give in a continuous flow of charity, must worship ateachers nd preceptor, with single minded devotion, must keep full faith in their inspiring words, must experience the flame of real spiritual knowldege within himself must bring about gradually the pure growth
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
