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15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
THERE IS NO HAPPINESS IN A LIFE FULL OF IGNORANCE Pujya Rakeshbhai Jhaveri amitkgala@sradharampur.org
For his extensive research treatise on Shrimad's finest literary creation, 'Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra' (a poetic composition on Self-Realization), the University of Mumbai conferred on Pujya Rakeshbhai
Jhaveri the degree of Ph.D. in 1998.
There is no happiness in a life full of ignorance, that is, a life devoid of knowledge of the self. There is no meaning to such a life, no purpose and no sense of fulfillment. Mankind is depressed, anxious and exceedingly frightened. Just as a tree whose roots are shaken and unearthed will dry up, mankind is drying up and becoming lifeless.
Why have these roots been shaken? Simply because man is not aware of his own self. An auspicious, beautiful and joyful life is possible only when man is at least aware of who he is and why he exists.
The Question Persists
No matter how much we try to forget it and keep ourselves busy elsewhere, time and again, the question surfaces. It reappears until it is convincingly answered. No matter how much wealth is amassed, or reputation earned, until an answer to this question is found there is emptiness inside. Deep down there is a feeling of despondency, which prevents us from being free from anxiety.
Our state is like that of a person who is traveling by train, but does not know where he has to go. He neither knows his destination, nor does he know the purpose of his journey. To overcome this anxiety, he reads the newspaper, listens to the radio, eats, drinks and talks to his cotravelers. He engages in various activities. However, the question 'Where do I want to go?' still remains.
Meaningless Existence
The problem of that traveler was only that he did not know where he had to go, but we are like travelers who do not even know who we are! We are ignorant not only about the journey, but about
Ecology - The Jain Way
ourselves too. We do not know where to get off, why we have to get off or even who has to get off! Questions like Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I going? Why am I going? Should I continue to live like this or should I change the course of my life's journey? - remain unanswered.
It is but natural then, that mankind is sad, depressed, worried and restless. Until the question 'Who am I?' is answered, sorrow is inevitable; until then there can be no ecstasy in life; until then tension, restlessness, agony and misery will not end. The life of one who has not found an answer to this question is meaningless. As Sartre has described it, 'Man is a useless passion.' The life of such a man is futile, all his interests and activities are useless, and his life is a senseless story without any substance. A meaningless existence!
Saints have asserted that life is not a meaningless existence. It can be full of meaning and joy provided one is aware of one's true existence. Life's meaning starts unfolding as one begins to question, 'Who am I?'
Avoiding is Not the Remedy
Human beings have invented a myriad of ways to escape this problem, but not solve it! When someone is sick in the family, outstanding balances in business are not recovered or close relationships have ruptured, man seeks solace in music, drowns himself in liquor or goes to a movie to try to forget his problem. But the problem can never be solved by forgetting it. On the contrary, by forgetting it he loses the ability and strength to solve it. The problem continues to remain the same whereas mentally he gets weaker and weaker.
Pain and restlessness do temporarily disappear by forgetting the problem and he may also feel good, but in the end this oblivion proves to be suicidal. Even though there is a way to happiness, he does not tread that path. He has either chosen to forget his misery or he lives under the illusion that there is no misery in his life. Neither of these options has eliminated his sorrow. The door to happiness will open for those who discover the root cause of pain, understand it and correct their fundamental mistake.
The Root Cause of Misery
The only misery is not knowing one's self. Other sorrows are nominal. Other sorrows are only
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