________________
246
I am the Soul
Keeping this goal in mind, the Shastras have mentioned several ways of performing penance. Ugra tapasvi, Deepta tapasvi and so on were mentioned along with one other - Gupta tapasvi. The silent performer or the secretive performer. Whatever penance he performs, no body gets to know about it. He is the only one who knows. Why so? Why this attitude of hiding? Is it right? No, here the intent in hiding is not dishonesty. But he feels, “The penance that I perform is only for the nirjara of my karma, I do not need any worldly acclaim'. In the Shastras too, the observance of tapa-vrata-pratyakhyana with the intent of this world ( इहलौकिक ) or beyond ( पारलौकिक ) or for purposes of receiving acclaim-prestige, is prohibited. The Shri Dashavuikalika Sutra says -
नो इहलोगट्ठयाए तवमहिद्वेज्जा, नो परलोगट्ठयाए तवमहिद्वेज्जा नो कित्ति-वन्न-सह-सिलोगट्टयाए तवमहिढेज्जा, नन्नत्थ निज्जरट्ठयाए तवमहिढेज्जा।
If somebody gets to know that I have performed penance, and pays me respect, then my ego gets inflated. If my praise and fame are sung my ego gets inflated. If nobody gets to know of my penance and I am not looked after and served, my anger grows. I am in fact, performing this penance to vanquish my anger, pride and other passions. On the contrary they seem to grow. Hence, whatever penance I perform should be in secrecy - gupta tapa, whereby there will be no scope for rising passions.
Brothers! Perhaps you may not be able to perform gupta tapa, but you can at least avoid the desire for fame and prestige.
Another thing that needs to be mentioned - something like termite that is eating into our society - the custom of give-andtake after penance. The one who performs the penance offers mementos and eating-parties to the society and relatives and the society in turn offers gifts. Why, indeed? Perhaps the purpose is to celebrate the success of the penance or to felicitate the performer. But today that purpose is all but forgotten. It remains only a materialistic viewpoint. "If this is not done, the society
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
