Bliss

Author(s): Amarmuni
Publisher: Sanmati Gyan Pith Agra

Page 43

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The path to spiritual enhancement
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about this distinction that the endless conflicts in this world arise. When desires are confused with needs, a person is consumed by the demon of greed. Then crossing the threshold of humanity, he destroys his own life as well as that of others. Hence, this distinction between needs and desires has been respected and emphasized by all religions.
Jainism is a religion that propounds renunciation. Remaining steadfast in austerities, the cleansing of sins is accomplished by the pure waters of knowledge.
The Jaina ideal paints a worthy picture of life before our eyes. It propels the aspirant to move ahead by urging, “You are not just where you think you are. You are not merely at the point where you find yourself today. Your present position is not the destination of tomorrow. You have to walk on until the path exists no more. The family in which you find yourself is not the extent of your responsibility. Your journey does not end there. You have a long journey ahead. Your journey will transport you beyond this finite circle to merge into the larger world where you will encounter the vastness of your soul.
It is when man merges with the universe, when he transcends from the limited to the limitless, when the waves of love and non-violence rise from his soul to embrace all, that godliness awakens in him. He who attains this godliness is worshipped as God or Arhan. This is the supreme Jaina ideal which aims at uprooting the corruptions of one's past.
This religion of the arhans is not plain idealism, it is realistic as well. Idealism has the power to inspire, but not to progress. How can one survive in this world with idealistic imaginations? Better off is the one who treads gently on earth than he who flies in the sky of imagination. He may walk less, but at least he has walked. It is important to have an ideal, since without it, a journey has no destination. Likewise the ideal needs a journey to reach fulfilment, otherwise it is an empty shell.
Dazed by the realm of idealism, do not forget the ground on which man rests his feet. The eyes may reach distances afar,