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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
203
This is just as we say elsewhere, Sri Ganeshaya Namah, Haraye Namah.
Humility is the first and foremost virtue that is expected of a disciple. It is humility that makes a disciple fit to receive knowledge. (fa91c91f? q ) Humility gives us fitness.
The great Jain Acharya Haribhadra Soori considers humility as the very basis of the Jina Shāsana (The Jain dharma). He says, "Humility is the basis of the Jain dharma. Only a humble person can achieve self-discipline. How can there be dharma or tapa (religion and austerity) in the case of a man who is devoid of humility?"
According to a Gatha (hymn) in the Dashavaikālika Sutra, humility is the root of dharma and moksha is the fruit of dharma.
This world is like a rented house. This body is also a rented house. We have to leave this rented house and we have to change from house to house (from body to body). But Moksha or salvation is our permanent abode. Once you enter it, you need not leave it. You will be the absolute master of that house. He who has humility has the right faith also or the right vision. He who has the right vision acquires the right knowledge. He who has the right knowledge acts in the right manner. In such a man, wisdom abides and so he knows, what to accept and what to reject; what is despicable and what is comriiendable. This wisdom gives man the power of right action and that leads him to salvation. Just as a bird flies with its two wings the jiva (living being can also fly over the ocean of Samsāra and reach the state of salvation with the help of the two wings of right knowledge and right action.
ज्ञानक्रियाभ्याम् में क्षः ।
Frānakriyabhyam mokshah. “Salvation or Moksha is attained by means of right knowledge and right action.”
If knowledge is like light, action is like the path or direction. If knowledge is lame, action by itself is blind. If a lame man sits on the shoulder of a blind man, they can reach their destination. Similarly, action (the blind
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