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

Previous | Next

Page 425
________________ Talking about knowledge ... The jiva, which pursues the three gems, becomes omniscient. Omniscience is the ultimate transformation of the characteristic of knowledge. The complete experience of the self with all its characteristics along with the knowledge of all the substances and their transitions in the universe is complete knowledge. Other than kevaljnana, which is in the form of complete knowledge, all other jnanas are incomplete. Only kevaljnana is complete. Indeed, as mentioned earlier, kevaljnana is infinite. Mati-shruta jnana etc., are all terminable, and not just that even the knowledge of jivas who know the purvas is but an infinite part of the kevaljnana - same as a droplet of water in comparison with the deep ocean. The value of the knowledge of a shrutadhar or purvadhar is as good as a droplet of water compared to kevaljnana, nothing better. If this truth is understood then no jivu would be able to take pride in its knowledge. The only jnana that is worth being proud of is kevaljnana. On several occasions I mention in my discourses that ‘if you have a mind to be proud of your knowledge, let if wait for a while. What is the point in taking pride in such a shallow knowledge? If at all you want to be proud, then wait till you attain kevaljnana. No jnana can stand in comparison with it.' Brothers! I know what is on your mind. You are going to say, Only when all pride within is destroyed, does kevaljnana occur. Then how can one be proud? Well! This indicates that jnana is not a device for being proud. While acquiring or after having acquired knowledge, let us salute the Jinavar and say, 'O Prabhu! I have learnt a lot. I believe I have acquired a lot of knowledge but it is no more than an infinite part of your knowledge.' Then our pride will be demolished and humility will naturally prevail. The incomplete jiva which is unaware of the limitations of its own knowledge begins to believe that there is nobody as Jain Educationa International For Personal and Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466