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Life of an aspirant
of Lord Mahāvīra, this conflict, this duality was prevalent. It was to end this conflict that he preached earnestly:
Whenever an aspirant observes any vow, performs any penance or act of sādhanā for his soul, he will be blessed with an inner vision and will therefore never be involved in deceit. For one who can see clearly within himself, there will remain no duality - asleep or awake, in solitude or in a crowd, he will only be his true, singular self:11
Because, whatever he does, he does for his soul, rather than to create an impact on others. His actions and his speech are pure and devoid of dualities and discrepancies. Such is his ultimate ideal.
As he says, thus he acts.12 As he is within, so he appears outside. As he appears outside, so he is within.13
I believe that this is the purest picture of an aspirant's life, a true reflection. And such a condition can exist only when an aspirant's renunciation is illuminated with the light of his inner self - that light which will emanate from his depths and illumine his entire life.
You may ask now, “When will this light within be lit, and how can this true form of renunciation be achieved?" My answer to you is this: Your inner light will dawn from the moment when you see the difference between uprooting your negative impulses and simply suppressing them. When this discrimination illuminates your inner gaze, it will inspire you towards true renunciation rather than renunciation by external forces. When impulses are uprooted, liberation will naturally follow.
We use the word 'nirvāṇa' to mean liberation. The actual meaning of nirvāņa iş 'to be extinguished' - a burning lamp to be snuffed out. As an ācārya has stated in Sanskrit literature:
What is the use of pouring oil in a lamp which is at the point
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sutte vā jāgaramāṇe vā, egao vā parisāgao vā jahāvādi tahākāri jahā anto tahā bāhim, jahā bāhim tahā anto
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