I am The Soul Part 01

Author(s): Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association

Page 97

I am the Soul
39
Nothing happens without a cause (R). There again, as the cause so is the effect (f). Every effect has a cause. Yet although there might be many causes apparent behind an effect, in reality there is always a singular basic material cause (34). All other causes are merely supportingly instrumental causes. Although all causes are essential, the upadana karana which is the important one, is unavoidable.
Just as an earthen pot is an effect, for which the potter, his wheel and the kiln have all been instrumental causes, and yet the basic singular upadana karana is the clay, out of which the pot was made. That being the case, why are knowledge and rituals stated as two upadana karanas for the effect of Liberation? Here causes are two yet the effect is one. How is that? Earlier, we have understood that jnana, darshana and charitra have been presented as three for our better understanding yet for developing the stability of the soul the three act as one.
The seemingly different principles are experienced as altogether one, and not just that, the cause is the karma and karma itself is the resultant effect. In the Jain path of devoted pursuit (3), cause, karma and effect are all rolled into one. The device (साधन), the devotion (साधना) and the attainment (सिद्धि), are all inseparable. Hence although knowledge and rituals may have been mentioned as two yet they are the same, only one.
This concept has been very succinctly and impartially laid bare in a verse by an experienced traveller on the path of liberation (साधक) -
शुं जाणे व्याकरणी, अनुभव शुं जाणे व्याकरणी, कस्तूरी निज डुंटीमां पण लाभ न पामे हरणी, अत्तरथी भरपूर भरी पण गंध न जाने बरणी .
मणोबंध घृतपान करे पण, खालीखम घी गरणी, लाखोमण अन्न मुख चावे, पण शक्ति न पामे घरणी
. अनुभव..
अनुभव..