Book Title: I am The Soul Part 02
Author(s): Tarulatabai Mahasati
Publisher: Shri Gujarati Shwetambar Sthanakwasi Jain Association

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Page 295
________________ . unrestrained true form! The pursuit of the three gems is possible only after the proper true form of the dharma is understood. Most people do not know what is meant by dharma. They keep on doing adharma, thinking it is dharma. As a result, the wandering of the jiva is not avoided. dharma is defined in many ways. Many presume that duties are dharma. Many others think that virtuous feelings are dharma. But it is not so. dharma in the form of duties is merely a practical arrangement. To properly run the activities, a person has to perform all his duties wherever he is. But such duties do not get treated as the dharma of the atma. Further, virtuous feelings are not dharma of any sort. Feelings of punya lead to bondage of karma, they are an asrava. Where there is asrava, there cannot be dharma. What is dharma? In Srimadji's own words - "Tirthankar deva calls samyag jnana, samyag darshan and samyag charitra as dharma. And here, there is an absence of bandha. Upholding the atma in the natural disposition is dharma. The natural disposition of atma is dharma. Not allowing atma to transform from svabhava – natural disposition to parabhava - affected disposition, is dharma. The atma has to accept degeneration - durgati - by going through affected disposition. Not letting the atma go towards durgati, and retaining it in the natural disposition is dharma. That which retains the jiva in perfect, infinite and unrestrained happiness by releasing it from the wandering of the sansar, is dharma. When does such dharma manifest in the atma? The Gurudev is explaining the final statement of 'means to moksa' to the disciple. The disciple has developed, within his self, an unwavering faith in the devoted pursuit - aradhana -- which has been indicated as a means to moksa, and he is eager to practice Jain Educationa International For Personal and Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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