________________
Detachment determines Self realisation
The true devotion of the three jewels helps unveil all the wrappings on the soul; invokes all the strengths of the soul. The reason why we do not perceive the unlimited strengths lying in the soul is the casing of Karma.
The same power which the kevaljnani Tirthankars mastered and which enabled them to achieve Moksa, resides in us too. But our experience is quite different. Even if a short vow, a pratyakhyana is to be taken up, our psychological or spiritual weakness keeps us from doing so. In spite of being physically fit we are unable to perform any penance or to give up anything as a result of this weakness. Not only this, even the virtues of the soul do not get revealed, the infinite strength lying in the soul does not get activated.
Why does this happen? Brothers, think! You have got the rare chance of being born as a human, you have the ability to analyse and understand, you have the faith and the company of noble souls. In spite of having all these why is the sincere effort not forthcoming? The answer to this has to be traced within.
Why is Man, who does not falter at the least in deploying all the external strengths at his disposal for the achievement of material comforts, unable to progress on the spiritual front? Why is he, who is able to put in a tremendous effort into several other activities of life, so lax about the effort of the Soul? The reason here is that the importance of spirituality has not dawned at all upon the jiva. He is unaware of the wonderful revolution that can come into his life if spirituality gets woven into every moment of its activity. History can so well illustrate instances of people whose lives had been notoriously disgraceful, yet when they realised the greatness of spirituality and accepted it as the mainstay of their lives, they rose from the lowly state to become supreme souls.
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
