Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 46

A Festival of Introspection
The Vyavahar view, in crude terms, helps you to live more b) All souls are equal, none being superior or inferior to easily and peacefully with the outside world. It also builds up another. In the words of Srimad Rajchandra: "Sarva Jeev your reserve of good deeds (punya karmas). The Nischay view Che Sidh Sum, Je Samje Te Thai - All souls are akin to helps to enhance and blossom the soul's natural qualities. In the Sidh; those who understand this principle will Jainism the Vyavahar view is always considered the "by the achieve that state". The Nischay view encourages you to by". The Nischay view is considered to be the most important understand your true nature. All souls have the potential to as it leads to contemplation and understanding of the true nature be liberated souls (Sidh Bhagvan). The only difference of the soul with the aim of its purification, the ultimate goal between the liberated souls and those in bondage is that the of practising Paryushan. Merely practising the Vyavahar former have attained liberation as a result of their "effort".
d punya karmas, leading to material gain in With effort, even the latter can achieve liberation. this life and the next.
The Dharmas are all prefixed by the word "Uttam" 3) Straightforwardness (Supreme) to signify that they are practised at the highest level a) The action of a deceitful person is to think one thing. by the Jain monks. The householder practises them to a lesser speak something else and do something entirely different. extent. It lasts over a period of ten days, each day being There is no harmony in his thought, speech and actions. dedicated to one of the ten Dharmas. In the sections below Such a person loses credibility very quickly and lives a) stands for the Vyavahar view and
in constant anxiety and fear of his b) for the Nischay view.
deception being exposed. Being
"Wealth, good looks, straight-forward or honest oils the wheel 1) Forgiveness
of life. You will be seen to be reliable a) We forgive those who have wronged us reputable family or and trustworthy. Deceitful actions lead and seek forgiveness from those we have
to the influx of paap karmas. wronged. Forgiveness is sought not just intelligence often b) Delusion about one's identity is the from human colleagues, but from all living
root cause of unhappiness. Be straightbeings ranging from one sensed to five leads to pride." forward to yourself and recognise your sensed. If we do not forgive or seek for
true nature. The soul is made up of giveness but instead harbour resentment, we
countless qualities like knowledge, bring misery and unhappiness on ourselves and in the process happiness, effort, faith, and conduct. It has the potential to shatter our peace of mind and make enemies. Forgiving and achieve omniscience (Keval Gnan) and reach a state of seeking forgiveness oils the wheel of life allowing us to live in supreme bliss. Again, the body, the karmas, the thoughts harmony with our fellow beings. It also attracts punya karma. and all the emotions are separate from the true nature of the b) Forgiveness here is directed to oneself. The soul, in a state soul. Only by practising Nischay Arjav Dharma will one of mistaken identity or false belief, assumes that it consists of taste the true happiness that comes from within the body, the karmas and the emotions - likes, dislikes, anger, pride etc. As a result of this incorrect belief it inflicts pain upon 4) Contentment itself and is thus the cause of its own misery. Nischay Kshama a) Be content with the material gains that you have Dharma teaches the soul to correctly identify itself by encour- accomplished thus far. Contrary to popular belief, striving aging it to contemplate in its true nature and hence achieve the for greater material wealth and pleasure will not lead to state of correct belief or Samyak Dharshan. It is only by happiness. Desire for more is a sign that we do not have all achieving Samyak Dharshan that the soul ceases to inflict pain that we want. Reducing this desire and being content with on itself and attains supreme happiness.
what we have leads to satisfaction. Accumulating material
objects merely fuels the fire of desire. 2) Modesty/ Humility.
b) Contentment or happiness, derived from material objects, a) Wealth, good looks, reputable family or intelligence often is only perceived to be so by a soul in a state of false belief. lead to pride. Pride means to believe one to be superior to the fact is that material objects do not have a quality of others and to look down on others. By being proud you are happiness and therefore happiness cannot be obtained from measuring your worth by temporary material objects. These them! The perception of "enjoying" material objects is objects will either leave you or you will be forced to leave them indeed only that - a perception! This perception rewards the when you die. These eventualities will cause you unhappiness soul with only misery and nothing else. Real happiness as a result of the "dent" caused to your self-worth. Being comes from within, as it is the soul that possesses the humble will prevent this. Pride also leads to the influx of the quality of happiness.” bad deed or paap karmas.
June - August 2001. Jain Spirit
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