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THEMES OF SOTERIOLOGICAL REFLECTION
II. ii. AŠARAŅĀNUPREKSA
The second major theme of soteriological reflection is the truth of ašarana, absence of permanent refuge, lack of protection or shelterlessness in the phenomenal world of beings. All beings-gods, humans, and animals--are utterly helpless in the face of death; they are destined to die; they cannot overcome old age, disease, sorrow and the fear of death. He who wants to be fearless and deathless must reflect on the omnipotence of Death or Time and adopt ways and means of going beyond the sphere of samsāra. That is to say, he who wishes to be released from the jaws of Death must immediately embark upon the career of achieving mokşa. The awareness of the fact of helplessness is the initial aim of aśaraṇānuprekşā; he who has this awareness becomes heedful and seeks only the ultimate release which sans fear and danger.
In the presence of death, the supreme enemy of all embodied souls, everything becomes powerless; elephants, horses, chariots, army, magical charms, medicine, and prowess, all these become useless. 16 One must reflect on this fact and work out one's salvation.
The teaching of the Excellent Conqueror (Jinavara) is the sole refuge in this world of beings who are overpowered by the fear of birth, old age, and death and seized by painful feelings of bodily and mental diseases.17 This view is endorsed by another authority with equal zeal. For the beings coursing through the round of repeated metempsychosis, there is no other refuge except Faith, Wisdom and Morality (darśana, jñāna, caritra) which should therefore be honoured with utmost devotion.18 Several soteriological manuals of Jainism employ the following interesting and keen simile for illustrating the fact of aśarana. 'Just as there is no escape for the young one of a deer pounced upon by hungry tiger, similarly there is no escape for the beings from old age, disease, sorrow and death.'19
16. Jsanārņava, II. 12; Bhagavati Aradhana, verse 1734.
Cp. Dharmasa muccaya, verse 228na deva na nara yakşā năsura garudastathal
trāyanti mrtyusamaye karmana paripaśitam// 17. Prašamaratiprakarana, verse 152. 18. Kürttikeyanuprekṣā, verse 30. 19. Sarvārthasiddhi on IX. 7, p. 315; Yogaśāstra, IV. 64; Karttikeyānupreksā, verse 24; Jņānārņava,
II. 17; Bhagavati Ārādhana, verse 1740. Cp. Dharmasamuccaya, vv. 43-44deva sura nara yaksā narak aga bhujangamahl gaccahanti vivaśaḥ sarvaḥ kalapaśam durā sadam traidhātukam idam sarvam kalapaśena pasitam! na ca paśyanti vivaša strsnāmohena mohitahl/
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