________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
15. RIGHTEOUSNESS
OH YOU LOVERS OF DHARMA OR RIGHTEOUSNESS !
Dharma or righteousness is the key with which we can wind the clock of life. In other words, it is the only real inspiration for life. Just as petrol is necessary for a car, just as fuel is necessary for the oven and just as food is necessary for the body, dharma or righteousness is essential for lifc. Dharma or righteousness is a value of life and it brings order, discipline and organisation into life. Dharma brings a balance into bise and governs life. On account of dharma, life acquires meaning. It gives a direction to life.
Dharma or righteousness is an attribute of the soul. The two are inseparable. Dharma and the soul are inseparable, because it is the true nature or form of the soul. वत्थुसहावो धम्मो ॥
vātthu sahāvo dhammo. The nature of a thing is its dharma.
According to the statement, the nature of fire is to burn; and the nature of water is to extinguish fire; but on account of its contact with fire, even water grows hot but if it is taken away from fire, even boiling water grows cool slowly because coolness is the nature of water. It is its natural quality. The heat that water acquires is a quality it acquires temporarily (vibhāva) and not nature (swabhāva). In the same manner, peacefulness is natural to the soul and a state of agitation or disturbance is unnatural to it. The jiva (the living being) becomes agitated or disturbed on account of the impact of passions and attachments. If the jiva discards those passions and
155
For Private And Personal Use Only
