________________
152
I am the Soul
'I may or may not be benefited in other ways, but let me at least become worthy of following the order of the Veetarag (Tirthankar)'; awaken this feeling at least. Awaken such an interest within your Self that come what may, even if I am unable to attain a knowledge like Avadhi or Manahparyaya, even if I am not endowed with any special powers; Why! even if I cannot perform a severe penance, I shall at least ensure that I make my Soul worthy'. Ah! Those rigours one has to go through to become worthy!
Clay lying around in pits, is in the form of clay and it cannot be called a pot. Oh how the clay suffers before it becomes a pot! One doesn't find clay blocks lying somewhere. They have to be dug out of the pits, and that means first of all the clay has to bear the brunt of the pick and the shovel. Where are we lying about? Infinite number of jivas are lying around in the pit like Universe. We are also bound in the indulgence of sensory passions. Our benevolent sages, try to pick us out with the strike of their words of advice. Let us keep those words in view and rise out of the pits of indulgence.
The Potter takes home the clay that has been dug from the pits, pours water into it and then tramples it, kneads it to make it smooth and tacky. Pebbles are all picked out and then the clay becomes suitable for the wheel. Oh what tolerance! Worthiness comes only after first suffering the strike of the pick and then getting trampled by the foot. Brothers! Why has the Lord mentioned the “22 Parishahas' (TRY)- 22 repeated sufferings - for a Sadhu? Why has he not called them sorrows? oft is ‘again and again and E is 'to suffer'. With repeated suffering one goes on awakening the tolerance within.
This jiva has not learnt tolerance at all. It gets only perturbed whenever unfavourable circumstances arise. Hungry and missing food; thirsty and missing water; hot summer and bothering heat; cold winter and bothering chill. Can equanimity be maintained
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
