Essence of Jainism Part 02

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 58

To associate with those who are good in nature and to read good books every day is the way to change your outlook.
To foster good thoughts and to translate them into action in life forms the basis of a true religion. SHRADHA VIDHI FOR CLEANSING ONE'S HEART :
'Shardha vidhi' deals with 'Dharma Jagarika' vigilance in religion for every devote. It enjoins on us to get up early in the morning, if possible, at about four O'clock and experience an awakening into a religious state. If you once taste the real happiness ennobling thoughts bring, you will forget this worldly pleasures and will long for joy or meditation.
For purifying our soul, the great saints have often advised us as
follows:
(1) To introspect and censure our evil deeds. (2) To rejoice in good deeds of ours. (3) To seek four 'Sharanas' in (a) Arihant; (b) Siddha; (c)
Sadhu and (d) True religion. We should always follow this. When the heart becomes pure, good thoughts will act like a drop of scent and the fragrance like effect will spread to change the quality of our life. If you introspect to find out why do we not see a qualitative change taking place in us though we spend thousands of rupees after religious rituals to earn merits, the root cause will be traced in the dirt accumulated within, in the form of attachment, aversion, infatuation, etc. The remedy lies in cleansing the heart. 'Dharma Jagrika' in Shradha Vidhi suggests a process of self-enquiry as under: (1) 27564 ? Who am I? Whence did I come from? Where
shall I go from here? What have brought in this world
with me? and what shall I carry with me in the next world? (2) 19 JIS ? What is my caste? Who is my mother?
Fortunately, I am not blind, handicapped or lame but
complete with five sense-organs. (3) fã a ? What is the 'Gotra' - family line of my father
? Fortunatiely I am not a begger or a low-born being. 'Self that I am, knows no case, no family line and no parents and has no sense organs or status in life. Alone and unrelated it is, to what are the effects of past karmas. if so, how do I relate myself to life?