________________
INTRODUCTION
is made between the two (shubha and ashubha) as between themselves (paraspara) then it becomes apparent that in case of good/auspicious (shubha) thoughts/mental states, passions tend to become feeble. This leads to a reduction of the bondage of karmas. In case of bad or inauspicious (ashubha) thoughts, passions become intense and thereby lead to an increase in the bondage of karmas. Thus, viewed from this perspective, the good or auspicious (shubha) is considered to be better than the bad or the inauspicious (ashubha) in Jaina scriptures and philosophy. For instance, the disease is only bad irrespective of whether it is less or more serious. However, in comparison to a more severe disease, a less severe disease is better."
Therefore, so long as shuddha upayoga (state of pure conscious attentiveness) or passionless conduct is not attained, it is desirable to keep oneself engaged in shubha (auspicious thought activities or virtuous conduct) by getting rid of ashubha (inauspicious thought activities or vicious conduct). But it is not desirable to indulge onself in the ashubha (vicious conduct) by forsaking shubha (virtuous conduct).56
Again, he (the nishchayabashi adherent of a deluded view) argues that “The inauspicious tendency of satisfying the desire of lust or hunger, etc. cannot be avoided and one has to engage in inauspicious proclivity willfully; and he who holds enlightened view wants to avoid desires, therefore, making effort of shubha (pious conduct) is not desirable.”57
In response, Pandit Todarmal stresses that engagement in good and auspicious (shubha) upayoga increases the sense of detachment. As a result, the intensity of sexual urge, etc. as well as the pain and restlessness caused by hunger, etc. is reduced. Hence, it is desirable to practice shubha upayoga.58 In spite of making such effort, if lust and hunger, etc. still cause distress, then in order to satisfy those urges, one should be careful in committing less sin. However, indulgence in unrestrained behaviour in sinful acts by forsaking good and auspicious (shubha) upayoga is not at all desirable.
Further, as for the (nishchayabhası) argument that a person who has an enlightened view does not seek any desire while the practice of shubha upayoga requires willful effort, it may be said that
though a person does not want to give even a little amount of his money yet wherever he feels that great amount of money is likely to be lost, he
