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264
THE ESSENCE OF JAINA SCRIPTURES
nature of that through which it evolves," etc., to explain in what the dharma of the self consists. Then, in order to explain this, with the verse (11) “When the self whose self evolves through dharma is conjoined with pure psychic-attention, it reaches happiness undisturbed,” he began to discuss pure psychic-attention as a means to the attainment of the happiness of nirvana; then good and evil psychic-attention, contraries, were rejected (cf. 46), and the nature of pure psychic-attention was described; finally, emphasizing the innate knowledge and happiness of the soul, which arise by grace of this (pure attention), he detailed the characteristic nature of consciousness (samvedana and jnana are equivalent here) and of pleasure.
Therefore, having with attention attained, by the grace of his pure psychic-attention, a total absence of longings for what is “strange” (to the soul), whilst he resorts to a behaviour, lordly and proud (or should we read atma-trptam instead of atma-drptam?) of the self, he now attains complete acquittance of his task, becomes entirely unperturbed, and, with the transitory-impression of preference-and-dislike (bheda) faded away, stands fast in the thought “I myself personally am dharma.”
92/1. That noble-minded shramana, whose deluded view is destroyed, who is well conversant with the Scriptures, and who has established himself in conduct of detachment, is described as dharma itself.
It is certainly my wish that the self may become dharma: this is hindered only by an external perception-infatuation. And this infatuation is destroyed by conversancy with Scripture and knowledge of the self; then for me it will never come into re-existence. So this my self, with its earthly career guided by a conduct devoid of attachment, becomes itself Duty, and, since all its hindrances are thrown off, for ever remains steadfast. Enough of disquisition!
Hail to Holy Tradition (shabda-brahman), preached by the Lord Jina and sealed with the syadvada (the formula “quodammodo”)! Hail to the acceptance of the truth of the self, which acceptance is based on that (tradition) and by grace whereof the knot of infatuation, tied since the beginning of samsara, is at once unfastened! Hail to pure psychic-attention, consisting in conduct utterly free from attachment, by grace whereof the self is become itself dharma !
“The self, becoming itself dharma, having attained pure psychicattention, and, whilst it enjoys the flowing forth of an eternal bliss,
