________________
344
I am the Soul
Moksa is attained, the jiva has to be reborn into this material world for suffering the miseries. This belief discourages a jiva from putting in a proper effort. “If, in spite of a tremendous effort, after going through numerous adversities, the liberation that is attainable is only temporary, and if there is again going to be the same wandering, then of what good is this liberation? One might as well remain where one is. Let us enjoy and go through the births and deaths!'
Brothers! The concept of liberation in the Jain tradition is based on the path indicated by the omniscient, Veetaraag Supreme Soul. As such there is no scope for doubt in it and it is the ideal path to pursue. Here the effort applied in the field of the atma never goes waste. As and how the effort is applied, it takes one closer to Moksa. This belief itself brings an awakening in the jiva, inspires an effort and ultimately the jiva attains Moksa.
The last pada is 'the means to Moksa is sudharma'. When the faith in all the five padas is awakened in the atma, the last pada now says, “There is Moksa, the jiva can get liberated, so there must be the means to do it'. With what effort can the jiva attain Moksa? So the simple reasoning here is that if the jiva is in bondage, then he has a chance to reach Moksa. So to attain Moksa, the bonds have to be snapped, and the way of snapping those bonds is the medium to Moksa. The path to Moksa. In the Gatha the means to Moksa have been stated as 'sudharma'. “Sudharma' is the dharma of the self. The pure true form of the atma, the feeling of jnata - drsta - knowing - seeing, is itself the dharma of the self. If one has abandoned the dharma of the self and indulged in attachment and aversion, that is the bondage. If one goes in the opposite direction he gets free from the bonds, gets liberated.
There is a fable among the ones in Panchatantra. There were many wild animals in a large jungle. Among them was the king of the jungle - Lion, reigning with terror. Once he started in search
Jain Educationa international
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
