Jain Digest 2001 01 Vol 17 No 01

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

Page 12

BHAGWAN MAHAVIR'S LAST SERMON
Dr. Pravin L Shah, Reading, PA.
Chatari Parmangani, Dulahanin Jatunan;
Manusat, Sui, Shradhha, Sayamamiya Viriyam It mentions four important prerequisites: 1. The most important prerequisite for self realization is to have human life and ability to think about ones self: (a) Who am I? (b) where did I come from? (c) What is my real form? (d) How can I know my true self? 2. For a genuine disciple, the next requirement prescribed by our Bhagwan is regular and devoted study of the scriptures which cover the metaphysics of soul and matter. 3. From the study of the scriptures, one needs to develop a scientific conviction of the cosmic consciousness and strong faith in six steps of soul. 4. The last requirement is to have a very strong commitment to explore and attain spiritual awareness by seeking continuous guidance from a teacher and follow the path of a self realized Master. Question: In layman's term, what is the metaphysics of soul and
matter?
Twenty six hundred years ago, prince Vardhman, a son of king Siddharth and queen Trishaladevi renounced the world to attain self realization at the highest form. At age 42, prince Vardhaman attained omniscient knowledge (Kevalgnan) and became the last Jain Tirthankar known popularly as Bhagwan Mahavir. For the next thirty years, Bhagwan Mahavir continued his teachings for his key disciples: Gautam Swami, Sudharma Swami, and Jambu Swami and these three Gandharas compiled Bhagwan Mahavir's teachings in most revered texts knows as Agam Sutras. The last sermon of Bhagwan Mahavir was given in a town called Apapa Nagari (Pavapuri Tirtha) and the entire sermon is compiled by Sudharma Swami in the most admired and popular Jain text, Utradhyayan Sutra. The last sermon of Bhagwan Mahavir condensed in Utradhyayan Sutra can be classified as a scientific thesis on a universal religion for healing of mind, body, and spirit, and a road map for living a spiritually aware and blissful life in the 21" century. The Utradhyayan Sutra can be thought of as a graduate level course in theology. In fact, the writing of this text is in question and answer between Gautam Swami Bhagwan Mahavir. Question: What is the true nature of this world we live in? Bhagwan Mahavir replied:
Jnama Dukham, Jara Dukham, Rogani Maranani Cha;
Aho! Dukho bi Sansaro, Jassam Kisanti Jatunam. Hey Gautam, this world is full of pain and misery where all living begins constantly experience pain of birth, old age, ill- ness, and death. In reality there is no real happiness in the world that is why it is called Sansara which means collection of misery. Question: Who is responsible for our misery, and is there a way to find permanent happiness and bliss? Bhagwan Mahavir replied:
Appa Katta Vikkata ya, Suhay Duhay cha;
Appa mitam Amitam cha, Supathhium, Dupatthium Hey Gautam, our soul is responsible for our own misery and happiness. If we follow the spiritual path, our soul becomes our
" friend, and if we go in the opposite way we become our own worst enemy and end up with the eternal cycle of birth and death, and pain and misery. Question: What are the requirements for a disciple to follow your spiritual path and to attain self realization? Bhagwan Mahavir replied: With this divine verse of chapter 3:
Bhagwan Mahavir replied: Soul or Atman is energy always in the state of knowing and is everlasting and formless with infinite knowledge, perception, and bliss. Matter is non-life and it can be created, transformed and destroyed while soul cannot be created or destroyed. In chapter 36 of this text, Bhagwan Mahavir declares the universe composed of two entities: life and non-life or soul and matter. Question: What is the relationship between soul, matter, and karma? Bhagwan Mahavir replied: Karmic particles are matter by class. Just like the earth has magnetic forces, soul too has field forces to attract Karma. The primary field force for the soul or Atman to attract Karma is the ignorance of self knowledge known as Mithyatva in Jain science. When a person is ignorant about his self, he is constantly attracting new Karmas all the time be they good or bad Karmas depending on his feelings and actions. Question: Why are bad karmas harmful and good Karmas helpful to the soul? Answer: In chapter 34 (Utradhyayan Sutra), Bhagwan Mahavir discloses the greatest scientific discovery found in no other religious text like this one. Bhagwan describes the effect of negative and harmful emotions like lust, anger, deceit, extreme revengeful attitude, violent anger etc. as three negative Leshyas or mental dispositions known as Krisna, Neel, and Kapot Leshyas. A person who has this type of mental attitude and feelings is
10/JAIN DIGEST. SPRING 2001 Jain Education Intemational 2010_02