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I am the Soul
235
“The Sages while describing the Universe, have done so to remove the ignorance which has been the cause of the jiva's infinite number of births therein. But how can that jiva who is engrossed only in the description of the world, be benefitted? This will be termed ignorance. That which enables you to remove ignorance is knowledge. That which is useful in the spiritual pursuit is knowledge. That knowledge which is not useful in the spiritual pursuit is ignorance."
Indeed it is necessary to know as to how far the jivas from all the four life-forms can reach on the path of spiritual pursuit. Samyag Darshan can occur to jivas from all the four gatis. A tiryanch can even become a shravak and a manushya can make an effort to attain Moksa while devotedly practising as a sadhu. Thus realise that for the purpose of pursuing the spiritual path, the manushya form is the best, and that every moment of this birth should be put to the best use, as this birth as a manushya will not come our way again and again; when this knowledge awakens within us that is Shrutajnana. But one who only counts the classsifications, keeps discussing them and gloats in the belief that he has gained knowledge, is a Matarthi.
In other words, Matarthi jiva insists upon propagating the sect or school of thought that he follows and holds the foolish notion that Moksa will be attainable only if one belongs to a particular sector dresses up in a particular way, and not otherwise.
Today, many people believe that only a follower of Jainism can attain Moksa. But what is this Moksa? Complete freedom from attachment and aversion is Moksa. This transformation can happen no matter what religion one follows. Jainism does not hold the monopoly that authorises only its followers for Moksa and prohibits others. A follower of Jainism may very well be observing the rituals but if the attachment and aversion within is not destroyed, then there can be no Moksa no matter how many births he goes through. At the same time for a follower of another
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