Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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acquire all excellent virtues one by one and the significance of sending the mind outwards is that you are determined to discard your vices, one by one. Both the objectives are good but it is necessary to remember that the rosary (the garland of beads) cannot achieve anything by itself. It is only a means to attain virtues and to discard vices. The turning of the garland and the counting of beads will be futile if by that means man does not attain self-purification." Mahātmā Kabir has said the same thing in a very effective manner:
'कबिरा' माला काठ की, मन न फिरावे आपणा, माला फेरत जुग गया, करका मनका डारिदे;
कहि समुझावै तो हि । कहा फ़िशवं मोहि ॥ मिटा न मन का फेर । मनका मनका फेर ॥
Kabira! mālā kāth ki
Kahi samujhavai tohi
Man na phiravai āpanā
Kaha phiravai mohi
Mala pherat jug gaya
Mita na man kā pher
Karaka mankā dāridai
Manka Manka pher.
"Kabir! How can I, the rosary (the garland of beads) made of wooden pieces give you knowledge? If you cannot turn your mind towards God, what is the sense in counting me? Ages have been spent counting the beads but the instability and fickleness of the mind does not end. So, leave aside the beads in your hand and concentrate on purifying the bead of your mind."
From this, the emperor got a satisfactory and pleasing reply to his question.
Acharya Harivijaya Soori had a disciple by name Muni Samaya Sundar. He said that one word might have