Jain Digest 2000 07 Vol 16 No 03

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 17

If each soul has all these qualities of infinite knowledge and bliss, why do we not experience it? Acharya Kundkund answers this question with an example of cloud covered sun. When thick clouds cover the sun, we may experience darkness during the day as if sun is no longer in existence. However, as soon as the storm is over and the rays of sun shine again, we can be sure of the presence of the sunlight. Similarly, for a person with thick clouds of ignorance or Mithyatva, it is not possible to see or experience the self knowledge until the ignorance of the self is destroyed by the teachings of a self realized Master. As soon as a student understands and experiences the true nature of the self, the clouds of ignorance vanish and the light of knowledge shines within one's heart to know the difference between the pure Self and the feelings of emotions related to the Karmic forces.
Verse 73 in chapter three of Samayasar is a divine Mantra of Kundkund for meditation and self realization: Pure consciousness I am, unattached, full of infinite knowledge; Meditating on Pure Self, shall I destroy all the Karmic bondage.
I am pure consciousness, one without any sense of ownership of external possession, and full of complete knowledge and perception. Meditating and contemplating on the true nature of my pure consciousness, I will attain self realization and destroy the bondage of karma.
Acharya Kundkund gives us his life time of divine experience of self knowledge in Samayasar in a very convincing and scientific way: Without true knowledge of pure self, one can never attain self realization no matter how many years of ritualistic worship or dogmatic practice of religion is done. According to this great Jain Master, true spirituality begins with knowing the self and becoming detached from all the worldly matters. As long as our mind is filled with ego and worldly possessiveness, it will be bound with Karmic matters due to good and bad emotions resulting from our attachments. Our mind is restless due to our attachments and desires of worldly things. With the help of a right teacher, when one begins to study and understand the true nature of soul, the curtain of darkness will be lifted and the rays of divine knowledge will shine within.
In concluding this epic, Acharya Kundkund says that any one who studies this scripture with keen interest and enthusiasm shall attain the self realization and ever lasting happiness and bliss. A serious student of Samayasar will find the essence of Lord Mahavir's entire Dravyanuyog or science of metaphysics of soul and matter in this scripture as a master key for self realization for thousands of years to come. In Acharang Sutra Lord Mahavira said: Je Egam Janei Se Savam Janei or one who knows his true Self knows every thing. May the Yogic powers of Lord Mahavir and Acharya Kundkund bless all the living beings to attain the self realization and eternal happiness.
MY VISIT TO BRITISH LIBRARY MY VISIT TO BR
Dr. Mahendra H.Mehta Whenever I visit any country, I have developed an urge 1 to seek out any source of information that might enhance my understanding of Jain Darshan, be it a mandir, a library or an archeological site and this time it was Jain Manuscripts.
Through the good offices of my friend Nemu Chandaria, I landed at British Library, a remarkable repository of anything printed from the first Bible by Guttenburg in 1400s to anything written in any language dating back as far as dawn of Christian era. I was very proud to see Jain Manuscripts (Jain MMS) feature as one of the oldest in the British Collection.
At British Library, I met three remarkable individuals with whom, I spent almost a whole day. Dr. Michael O'Keefe from Oxford University, a Sanskrit scholar and expert on Jain MSS showed me around and talked at great length how the work is being done to preserve Jain MSS which he said is heritage of the whole human race. He also introduced me to two scholars from Amdabad's L.D.Institute. Dr. Kanubhai and Mrs. Kalpana Sheth, who are working on Jain MSS at present at British Library.
In preparation of celebrations of 2600th anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir's birth, the British Library and Institute of Jainology will publish jointly a catalogue of Jain MSS in British Library. The catalogue was begun by the great Jain scholar Professor Chandrabhal Tripathi, who sadly passed away in 1966 before its completion. It is now in the capable hands of his former student and collaborator Professor Nalini Balbir of University of Paris, France, assisted by Dr. Kanubhai Sheth and Mrs. Kalpanaben Sheth.
Professor Nalini Balbir gave an illustrated lecture on Library's Jain collection, which is one of the richest outside India and particularly strong in the commentarial literature in Old Gujarati. Traditional Prakrit and Sanskrit works are also well represented. Texts, as early as the thirteenth century, range from the Kalpasutra and Uttaradhyanasutra to cosmologies and katha(legends), many of them superbly illustrated in the varied styles and genres of Jain miniature painting.
To be published later this year in two richly illustrated volumes, the catalogue will contain detailed descriptions over 1,000 items, many of them of great rarity. It will be a lasting monument to Jain scholarship and witness to the continuity of the great Jain tradition.
Dr. Michael O'Keefe added that he would be delighted to get North American Jains involved in this Herculean task of preserving Jain MSS, also at Wellcome Foundation, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, in Germany, Holland, France, Belgium
and of course in India.
For more information on how you can help, Dr. Michael O'Keefe at:Michael. O'Keefe@bl.uk Dr.Kanubhai Sheth at kanusheth25@hotmail.com or Dr. Mahendra H. Mehta at mhmehta @sympatico .ca
JAIN DIGEST-FALL 2000/15