________________
62
I am the Soul
Brothers! Do not feel hurt when I say this, but I have heard that when you all go over to the cemetery when somebody dies in the society, while the immediate kith and kin of the dead person are all lamenting there, just a little distance away all others discuss matters over a cup of tea. Why, I understand matters that don't easily get discussed elsewhere, be it business, politics or about fixing up some alliance, are all settled here! There is scant respect shown for the sobriety of an occasion like death.
If at such times your consciousness is provoked, then with a glaring example of the duality of the body and soul before you, you would begin a quest for the soul. I would like to know if at any time when you went to a cemetery, the thought about soul ever occur to you. If not, then the question arises as to how deep asleep are you? If the thought of the soul does not arise even where it rightly should, then where else would it? Would it arise at home, at your business, or while you eat and drink? Brothers! This physical death is a great catalyst to galvanise our thoughts about our soul, let us use it and awaken ourselves to the realm of the soul.
Virtual Death is something that demands a greater understanding. All of us assembled here and all the beings of this universe have died a virtual death several times and are so dying even now. Do you know how many times you died in your 50 or 60 years of life? “Oh Maharaja! We are not dead. We are alive and hence able to sit before you here”. But Brother! I am not referring to physical death, only asking you about virtual death. How many times did you die the virtual death?
क्षण क्षण भयंकर भाव मरणे - the learned sage says your virtual death is occurring every moment. How does this virtual death occur? How is virtual death related to our attachment with the world? Why does this qualified love, this bond of affinity result in repeated virtual death? How agonising and painful is this virtual death to the soul? All this at another time.
Jain Educationa International
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
