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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
20. THE PATH OF SALVATION OH YOU PEOPLE DESIRING SALVATION!
If someone is running spet dily and if you ask him, "Where are you running to ?” and if the man says in reply to your question, “I do not know where I am going.” You will naturally think that he is a mad fellow. But, are you not also mad and foolish because you are travelling through life without knowing the aim of life?
Those who travel without a destination or aim keep wandering endlessly without reaching any goal. If life is a journcy, salvation is its destination. Every enlightened öva always endeavours to reach that goal. That is the highest objective of every enlightened being.
Moksha or salvation is the aim of life. Salvation means freedom from all desires and passions and attachments. When a light is extinguished where does the flame go? Just as the flame disappears for ever and does not come back, the soul also after entering the state of salvation does not re-enter life and does not become bound in body again. We say, "He has attained Nirvana like the flame of a light going out”, and this state from where there is no return is the ideal state called Moksha.
A lofry ambition and the feeling of contentment are both acceptable and commendable but each of these two has its sphere. Contentment is essential in respect of worldly life while a lofty ambition is essential in one's spiritual life—the lofty ambition of attaining salvation is essential in respect of one's spiritual life. Our desires for worldly things are countless and endless. Therefore in this sphere, contentment is a virtuc but ambition is commendable if it is entertained in respect of salvation. Hence in the spiritual life ambition is commendable and acceptable. Ambition ends after the attainment of Moksha. We should have that lofty ambition. We should always aim at attaining perfection. When shall I become
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