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CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES
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the seven kinds of inpas, symbolised by the seven tongues of Agni in Hindu symbology, and the "Lamb" is the symbol of excellent harmlessness (meekness), the soul (Jesus) must acquire before it is qualified to receive the" book written inside and at the back” from the hands of Life.
The part assigned to the 24 Elders is also emblematic of the relation between Life and Its most glorious manifestations, the Tirthaikaras.
The worshipping* of the one on the throne is the symbol of the recognition of the Divinity of Life that is common to all the perfected Souls. Thus, while true divinity appertains to Life, the Tirthamkaras are the Teachers under whose instruction that divinity is to be developed ; for They have attained to the loftiest heights of Perfection Themselves. A Tirthanıkarı is, accor. dingly, the inost venerable and the most worshipful Teacher. He is called Father or Heavenly Father, not because He is the maker of anything or being, but on the same ground on which ordinary priests and precep. tors are termed father. The doctrine of baptism, or the
The adoration of the “ Lamb " in the Apocalypee (chap, v. 8) similarly means the adoration of the world-gaviour, i. e., Tirthamkara, the object of worship being not any particular individual whether God or man, but the attributes of Divinity, as found in the Highest Manifestation of Life Divine. For wise men worship’ not in. dividuals, to be allowed to pick up crumbs from their tables but the supreme status, that is to say the attributes of Perfection in Parani atmans (Gods) which they aspire to develop in their own souls.
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