Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1913 Book 09

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 296

Shri Jain Conference Herald.
When man grows into the consciousness of the certainty of death, a Divine discontent rises in his breast simultaneously. Shall I die and depart from this world I hold so dear as I daily see so many of my fellow creatures die and depart?" he asks himself in some cooler moments of his life and the answer gently descends in his consciousness if only he is in earnest and sincere yes; my dear Self The material tenament thou occupies at present is woven round thee by the operations of energies generated by thee in past births. Thou art a center around which this mass of flesh and bones is built up. Thou art independent of the body in as much as it could be held out for examination as a common piece of matter. Don't identify or confound thyself with the heap of flesh thou carriest about thee by the dispensation of karmas, Thou art as isolated against it as thou art against the roof thou standest under or the clothing thy body is wrapped up in. Don't sigh or pine at the prospect of what the ignorant callDeath." There is nothing to be afraid of now when thou hast once grasped its essential nature. It is not self that dies. There is no death, no total extinction of anything, and if at all there is, it is nothing but the disintegration of the particles of riatter. Disintegration is no extinction and either of the processes concerns thee not. Thou art as intact after "death" as before it. Thou art by the very nature Indestructible, Immutable and God in embryo. Divorce thyself from the idea of a physical being and cut asunder the bond of attachment which binds thee to endless transmigrations, Know this and be calm, serene and content with thyself. " This plain language of truth is unsavoury to him at first. He tries to protest against and argue away the conviction brought home to him by the Higher part of his being. He cannot tolerate the idea of being separate from the body, he has so long cherished with feelings of extreme affection. He would not let go his hold over his second self. Now he seeks a religion that might reconcile spiritual bliss along with the free enjoyment of physical appetites. Demand creates supply and such cults, as might accord with the tastes of the people,
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