Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1913 Book 09

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

Page 297

Divine Discontent.
425
came into being. Man in that stage could not hear the idea of his not being what he obiviously appeared prima facie. To this end he searched for a Personal God whose wrath he might appease by offering him bribes in the shape of oblations, sacrificial rites or puja offerings. To him God appeared as sitting above clouds and all others as His children indulging in pleasures which they earned by the sweat of their brow. Dreaded into such unwholesome beliefs by wily theologians, they-poor creatures-offered valuable gifts to the so-called apostles of God to ensure through them, His good-will here and hereafter. But man a rational being-as he evolves, soon begins to see the folly and unreasonableness in such selfish creeds in the name of God and feels himself sinking deeper and deeper in the Magmire of deluding beliefs. He rouses himself from that night-mare and institutes independent inquiries to find out a solution to the mysterious problem of his ultimate destiny" Who am I?" he asks of himself and commences his search along the line dictated by his Higher part. He slowly begins to perceive that whatever he sees, touches, smells, tastes, hears and understands is "not self " as all such objects can be kept at an arm's length and set aside as apart from him. The physical body, which he tillthen identified with his 'self', seems now a fit object to be placed in the category of things set aside as "not self." The mental body then persistently presses its claim to be recognised as part and parcel of his "Self." But the search light of discrimination is brought to bear on it and the claim of mental body is very strictly shifted and enquired into until in the last analysis it can bear no further scrutiny-the claim is set aside as its physical counter-part and held equally untenable-the mental outfit is likewise found to be collection of fine tools which perform duty as his feelers at the Master's -the Self's command--they are no longer a part of his self as they proclaimed themselves to be till then. He has now hazy notion of his ultimate reality. He feels an unutterable void. Nothing attracts him; nothing pleases him. He finds himself landed in a strange plight. He feels blank dispair. He sees