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

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Page 26
________________ 16 Letter 3 Similarly we will never achieve anything by just bowing and saluting the monks, Arihant and Siddha. On the contrary we have to take refuge in Arihant, Siddha and Sadhu fig i.e. Muni. In other words follow the path shown by them. Therefore it is said 'Kevalipannattam dhammam saranam pawajjamiaafriquuri hot roarulify.' There are various misconceptions about the nature of Dharma ah. Different people have different concepts about it. Accordingly to some people we have to revive or restore Dharma. In case of these people it seems that they do not realise that by following true Dharma (religion) the ignorant and grieved become free from all the miseries. In short it is not Dharma which needs any help from us to attain its lost glory, because it is always glorious and great. But people like us who are engrossed and entangled in this world of passions and misery, find their own glorification by practising this ever great and glorious Dharma. The real true nature of all the substances i.e. Dravya gou is their Dharma i.e. characteristic. For example, Dharma of fire is heat. It was hot thousands of years ago and is so even today. It is not here in India as well as in America or anywhere else. That is to say that the true nature of any substance is same and constant and does not change at all, at any time and anywhere. Dharma or true nature of each substance is explained in the Satshastra HETE i.e. scriptures told by Arihant. We have to study them under proper and able guidance from those who have experienced one's own self i.e. Samyakdrishti FRIGGIE. Because if we try to learn them as per our own ideas and abilities we may get wrong meaning and will go astray. In the nursery as a child we start learning from the scratch A,B,C,D and then progressively gain more and more knowledge. Similarly we should start by learning basics of Dharma or philosophy first and then progress further up. Most of the people keep themselves away from this philosophy or spiritual knowledge. Many a people do not know that this is a scientific study. Even i used to think that our Gods and Munis, are skyclad i.e. Digambar faciat and Dharma meant practising strict fasting, daily offering prayers to God, observing penance ( Vrata an), giving donations, ( Daan C) or going on pilgrimages. But without the proper study of the philosophy we do not understand the exact and true nature of Dharma, leave aside achieving it. In today's materialistic world those who have gained some wealth and success feel that they are very happy and are not interested in knowing any philosophy or spiritual knowledge. Because they say that

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