________________
266
I am the Soul it. Nothing has been discussed there from the viewpoint of the thoughts of the Soul.
So now, Brothers! We have to attain the Soul and all the traditions of India have indicated the various vratas and vows as the devices required for attaining it. Whether Jain or non-Jain, whether believing in idol-worship or not, all have placed importance in the tremendous effort of achieving the Soul. Indeed, there is one thing we ought to understand that this tradition of these vratas and vows that is continuing, has not been set rolling by some ordinary person like me or you, but has been told by knowledgeable thinkers and able sadhaka souls. Hence there is no doubt that they are worthy of respect and worth following:
Yes, it is true that today people oppose rituals-vratas and vows. The case taken up by the learned ones among them cannot really be ignored. For, those who perform without an understanding are left with only the carcass, without life, on their hands. Today, rituals are performed aplenty, a lot of fasting and penance is performed, but all without the feeling, hollow. The ones who have forgotten the essence of the rituals, have been performing them without understanding and have thus degraded the value of the rituals. They have given rise to a disbelief in the minds of people. So such of those who perform rituals need to understand that vratas and vows are those by performing which, there is a transition in life, passions subside and the goal of the Soul is awakened.
So Brothers! It is thus necessary to understand devices and bring them into practice in life. Nothing is achieved by merely getting stuck with Niscaya Naya. But with Niscaya Naya as the goal, let us follow Vyavahara and awaken the pure form of Soul right here.
Now, more in the next.
Jain Educationa International
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org