Book Title: Jain Tattva Parichay
Author(s): Ujjwala D Shah
Publisher: Veetrag Vani Prakashak

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Page 22
________________ 12 Letter 2 That is why the so called God who are with weapons, ornaments, different kinds of clothes, wife, servants cannot be True God or Ishwar in its true sense. These worldly possessions prove the presence of desire. Ishwar does not have any feeling or passions like attachment or aversion. Nor do they have any desire even as to protect their disciples or punish and destroy evils. Here you have to bear in mind that it is not our aim to look down upon anybody or hate/dislike followers of other beliefs. It is just to clear our misconceptions in our belief of nature of Ishwar. If we have to be on the path of liberation, foremost thing is to know the true nature of self or Atma and to understand the self in its pure form you have to know the exact nature of God or Ishwar. When a child is shown or told about its favourite dish its mouth starts watering and immediately desires for it. When we see the photos of our grand parents we immediately remember that they used to give us sweets and treat nicely. Why and how does it happen just by mentioning the names of these things or persons? Because just as we hear the names or see the photos, we are reminded of their qualities. The child immediately remembers the taste, colour, feel of the sweet. And we remember the love and affection our grand parents had for us. Similarly, just as we are reminded of Arihant or Siddha we should immediately remember and feel their attributes of devoidance of passions i.e. Veetaragata and omniscience i.e. Sarvadnyata. Only in that case we can say that we have realised the nature of true Ishwar. Mere rituals like bowing in front of God or recitation of his name is not worship in its true sense. But to know the true attributes of him and feel respect and realise its greatness is the true worship. So unless you know the true attributes/qualities how can you respect or realise its greatness? Apart from worshipping Kudev, some people consider some other non-living things or living things in sub human forms as God and worship them. These are trees, rivers, rocks, cows, cobra etc. These are called Adev aga i.e. nongods and this faith in them is called Fallacy of God. Let me tell you one incident. In the year 1984, I was lecturing at Pune, teaching the book · Ratna Karanda Shravakachar '. Topic was about True God. A person asked me a question saying " See, we have to live in a society and have to please our friends. Therefore when they call us to attend Pooja of their Gods we have to go. But we are so clever that we close our eyes and do Namaskar but say Namokar Mantra and in

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