________________
190
THE DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION IN INDIAN RELIGIONS
evil function of māyā in the following words :
“Blinded by ignorance (agiān, avidyā), led astray by doubt (bhram), and forgetfulness (bhulekha), he accepts the world at its own valuation. But it is māyā, it is fraud (kapat), a deceit (chhal) untruth (kür, jhuth), a snare (jāl) and the penalty for accepting it is inexorable. By accepting it man involves himself in dubidha, in 'duality'in all that stands in opposition to union, in that separation which must divide the self-willed manmukh from God."15
Those who are charmed by worldly attractions and supernatural powers, forget the true Lord and must inevitably entangle in the cycle of birth and death. The man deluded by māyā, dragged by untruth, ruined by passions and desires commits such evil actions as highlight his transmigratory process. The Guru states :
“The fool revelleth in māyā and knoweth not. 'I earn, I gather', sayeth he, and so passeth his whole life, he is deluded by false mind."16
It is further stated that without the love of God all involvements create bondage.
"Bondage binds the worshippers of māyā. One who is karmrat i.e. goes the way of works, carries a heavy load of ego. For he loveth not the Lord and his deeds turn into sins.":}?
The notion of egoity (haumai) is rooted in agian or avidyā which produces several major evils and passions such as sensuality (kām), wrath (krodh), avarice (lobh), infatuation (moh) and pride (man). These evil passions in addition to addiction to sense pleasures (bikhiasakat, vişayā.śakti) and sense of egoism build the ground for samsāra. All these passions, emotions and evil inclinations produce pain and misery. They are the enemies of spiritual life.
The aforesaid five passions viz, sensuality, anger, greed, infatuation and pride are called 'five thieves' by the Guru.18 One suffers in transmigration when one is entangled by these five theives. These evil passions are always present in worldly beings in one form or the other, and are difficult to control. All the beings of samsāra even gods, men and demons, have been robbed by these evils. As the Guru states these five (evils) are hidden in our mind.
15. 16. 17. 18.
W.H. McLeod, Gurū Nanak and the Sikh Religion, p. 186. Adi Granth, vol. 1, p. 233. Tr. by Gopal Singh, vol. I, p. 242.
Ibid, vol. I, p. 241 Tr. by Gopal Singh, p. 252. A Ji Granth, vol. IV, p. 1201.
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
