Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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SELF BUDYIS THE
Ācārya Devendramuni has written an exhaustive foreword of almost 100 pages to the fourth volume of the text published by Agam Prakasan Samiti, Beawar, and Rajasthan. The Sailana publication Vol. VII carries a list of the contents of the Bhagavati Sūtra in an alphabetical order that runs to around 27 pages.
Essence of the Bhagavati Sutra Lord Mahāvīra gave equal importance to both, knowledge and action for emancipation. Just as a bird needs two wings to fly, an aspirant should have both, knowledge and action, to be liberated from the shackles of birth and death. He says ārādhana (accomplishment) should be of three essentials namely: > Knowledge ► Faith ► Conduct
One who accomplishes the three can be liberated and relieved from the web of transmigration. This inner journey of accomplishment sets in when one comes in contact with the saintly and self-realized souls. Thereupon the fruit of listening to the truth is revealed to be knowledge, from knowledge springs scientific spiritual discriminatory knowledge of the soul, and then the soul takes to renunciation and exercises self-control as a result of which the influx of karma is terminated. After this the soul takes to austere practices and annihilates the karmas and becomes perfect and accomplished. The Sūtra which reveals the above is as follows:
Sava nenā nevinnane, paccakkhane yasanjame
ananhaye tave ceva, vodāne akiriyā siddhi ||
Through the above revelation we understand that Atman alone is Sat, i.e. real. To know it, to have faith in it is called "Satsamga". Since time immemorial the soul has never come in association with it-self, but has perpetually been in association with men, matter and money. The author of the Bhagavati Sūtra through various topics and discussions has tried hard to drive the message that freedom from all this non-self, be it body, senses, mind, thoughts,
3 Bhagavati Sūtra 7.2 4 Ibid 8.10. 5 lbid 2.5.
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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