Glory of Jainism

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 28

12. Rarity of right faith : Human birth, good family, healthy body with unimpaired sense-organs, hearing of the true Doctrine, etc. are very difficult to attain. And it is to be borne in mind that the succeeding one is even more difficult to attain than the immediately preceding one. Of them, a good spiritual teacher and faith in his words are extremely difficult to attain. Infinite Tirthankaras had flourished in the beginningless past yet this being has remained unenlightened even to this day. It is so because for that abundant auspicious Karmas-causing-auspicious-karmas-in-their-train and merit are needed. One should strive for the cultivation of required merit or qualification.
13. Reflection on universal friendliness : In the infinite past births at one time or another one happened to have close and loving relationship with each and every living being of the entire universe. Having remembered this love and affection as also having forgotten; wrongs done by them one should develop a feeling of friendliness towards them. Others have their souls as one has one's own. All souls are similar in nature. So one should view others as one views one'sself. One should behave with others as one would like others to behave with one. One should conquer attachment and aversion and cultivate equanimity. One should curb passions. One should wish the well-being of all beings. One's own wellbeing or good is contained in the well-being or good of others. So one should cultivate a feeling of universal friendliness. One should never bear ill-will or enmity towards others.
14. A feeling of gladness : One will gradually develop those very qualities in one'sself if one feels great joy on seeing good qualities and progress of those superior to oneself. The Master has declared that in accordance with the internal mental state) one may or may not attain the good result of one's good act, but one who approves and praises the good act is certainly benefitted. This is the reason why one should honour the Lord Arihanta endowed with all spiritual qualities, saints, patriots, Jaina lay followers, philanthropists, donors, followers of the path of salvation, etc., constantly recall their good qualities to one's mind and derive pleasure from it. At least one should not indulge in backbiting slandering and reproaching others.
15. Compassion : Having compassion on the miserable, the poor, the helpless and the wicked one should ever strive to remove or lessen their hardships and sufferings. One should render all possible assistance and service to them. One should help them financially according to one's capacity. One should always reflect as to when one will attain the spiritual capacity to free the beings from evil activities that cause misery. One should never be hardhearted and cruel.
16. A feeling of indifference: When one comes across a person who does not adopt a wholesome path inspite of one's right instruction and advice but on the contrary disrespects and despises one, one should not be angry with such a deluded, perverse and egoist person but should maintain an attitude of neutrality (indifference) towards him. Of course, under such circumstances it is very difficult to maintain an attitude of neutrality. One should pray the Lord that we may attain more and more capacity to maintain an attitude of neutrality when our attempt at reforming a person or a group of persons ultimately comes to utter nought.
These sixteen soteriological reflections are spiritually beneficial to one'sself and to others as well. They endow one with new spiritual vision or attitude as opposed to old worldly one. They purify the soul and manifest its natural love for truth. This natural love for truth is strengthened by them.
- Kumarpal Desai