________________
158
I am the Soul
to be variations, differences in the rituals, customs, beliefs and thinking, between communities.
Let us consider the reason for these. Whenever a new community developed, it is invariably with a rebel cause. Whenever differences of opinion arise due to the customs and rituals in the community in which we have our faith, they lead to disunity of minds and that takes the shape of a rift. The rift leads to a new community. There is bound to be some difference between the new and the original. If I were to start a new community because I do not accept your customs, your traditions, then I would have to form a new set of rules and regulations. Although there is no difference in the fundamental principle; in fact there cannot be one.
Yes, in the Jain tradition, there has been a remarkable characteristic that in spite of the many split communities, the fundamental principle, the belief is not disputed. All the communities have a firm belief in the absolute freedom of the Soul and accept that the soul can become the Supreme Soul. Not only that, the basic theories of Shaddravya (T550), Navtattva (नवतत्त्व), Ashtakarma (अष्टकम), Chaturdash Gunasthana (चतुर्दश गुणस्थान) etc. are accepted by all of us. If at all there is a difference, it is in the external customs.
So Brothers! What I want to say here is that if we stop mixing up our communal beliefs for religion, if we can discern between religion and community, then there will be no need to start the “I am right, you are wrong argument. The statement is as simple as saying, "One whose yearning for the Soul has awakened is right, and one who is indulging in the worldly affairs is wrong".
In addition, one who does not understand the implied meaning of the last phrase of this Gatha, gets it all wrong and is confused. Srimadji said - oft Haine 21757 - not to mean that you should change your community. It's not as if because you were
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
