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I am the Soul
193
Look, how free from karmas, were these souls! How very humbly did Mrigavati answer the questions of Chandanbala, even after having attained kevaljnana! For that matter, when Chandanbala asked her those questions, the former was still confined and the latter had already attained kevaljnana. Mrigavati could have very well told her straight away that 'I repented, so I got kevaljnana'. But no, she kept on saying just that it was - *Your blessings'. Now that is the height of humility!
Brothers! Consider this! From Sadhaka to those worthy of attaining kevaljnana, all jivas have to be humble. Where do we fit in? There is no sort of capability as yet in us. So imagine the humility necessary in us. Unless the feeling of humility arises in us, there will not be the grace of the Guru and neither will the interest in the soul awaken. So let us first try to understand the dharma of humility and then try to bring into practice. Telling us that it is difficult to understand this dharma, Srimadji says -
एवो मार्ग विनय तणों, भाख्यो श्री वीतराग,
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In the earlier gatha, we were told that even after attaining kevaljnana, a kevali disciple continues to bow before a Guru who is still confined. This is bound to perplex anybody. The relation of Guru and Shishya are worldly bonds, while the state of kevaljnana is a result of the purified soul. Certainly this state is of a higher order. How can the behaviour of bowing before the Guru even after attaining this, be explained? This question is but natural, not out of place, but the implied meaning of what has been told has to be understood. Indeed, the first and foremost thing that is required is the unflinching faith that this path has been shown by the Veetarag Paramatma, not by some confined jiva out of his imagination or out of a narrow feeling of his personal gain.
What an importance has been attached to the greatness of humility on the path of devoted practice! It is implied that this
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