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The Heritage of the Last Arhat
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वयं च वित्तिं लब्भामो न य कोइ उवहम्मइ । अहागडेसु रीयंते पुप्फेसु भमरा जहा ।। महुगारसमा बुद्धा जे भवंति अणिस्सिया ।
नाणापिंडरया दंता तेण वुच्चंति साहुणो ।।
"As the bee drinks honey from the blossoms of a tree and gets seated, without causing pain to the blossom."
"Just so are those monks, who have given up all attachment and who are truly the 'good ones' (original : 'Sadhu', i.e., also ‘monks' ) in the world. As the bees are with the blossoms, so are they gratified with begging their alms."
"Their device is, 'Let us find something to live on, without any creature being harmed'. This is why they go in quest of what they find ready, as the bee does on the blossoms."
"Wise are those who act like the bees, and who are free from all bonds of dependence. Pleased they are with any food they obtain, and ever self-controlled. This is why they are called 'Sadhus' (i.e., “the good ones' and 'monks' ).
The ideal of what human life can be like, and ought to be like, in the light of all these conceptions, is illustrated by the figure of the Jina or Arhat, the supposed initiator of a new period of reawakening Jainism after a period of decay. Many such Arhatas are related to have appeared on earth before, many are said to be living even now in distant regions, and many, to be expected in future too. The Jina or Arhat is man on the summit of perfection, man at the threshold of Mokşa, ready to enter Siddhasilā, the place of eternal bliss, from where there is no return into this world of imperfection.
His Karmas, with the exception of some neutral ones, are fallen off from him, and-the innate qualities of his soul are expanded in fullest beauty and majesty. He is omniscient, all-perceiving, filled with infinite joy and infinite strength. He is free from all passion and attachment, free from desire for desire is nothing but an expression of imperfection —, and yet he is man, and has to keep
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