Jain Thoughts And Prayers English Gujarati

Author(s): Kanti V Mardia
Publisher: Yorkshire Jain Foundation

Page 21

TWELVE REFLECTIONS
The twelve mental reflections engaged upon are given below. The traditional approach makes them rather negative but Chitrabhanu has stated them in a more positive manner. Here, the two approaches are integrated (see, Mardia 2016). 1. Impermanence: There is impermanence of everything surrounding one but there is unchanging soul beneath the changing body.
2. Helplessness: We are helpless in the face of death but the inner invisible force always lives.
3. Cycle of Rebirth: Liberation from the cycle of rebirth is possible.
4. Aloneness: There is the absolute solitude of each individual as he goes through this cycle and therefore one should achieve dependence only on oneself.
5. Beyond Body: The soul and body are separate and we are more than just corporeal. We must seek the true meaning of life through the existence of the soul.
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6. Impurity: How even the most physically attractive body contains impurity.
7. Karmic Fusion: How karmic influx happens and how to stand apart and watch the inflow.
8. Karmic Shield: How such influx happens and how to close the window when the storm, in the form of the Four Passions, is about to come.
9. Total Karmic Decay: How karmic matter within the soul may be shed so that the soul may be cleaned to move towards permanent reality.
10. Universe: The universe is eternal and uncreated, hence each person is responsible for his own salvation - for there is no God to intervene.
11. Rarity of True-Insight: True-Insight is rarely attained and human embodiment bestows the rare privilege and opportunity to attain moksha.
12. Truth of Jain Path: The truth of the teachings of the Tirthankaras which leads to the goal of eternal peace through understanding one's own true nature.
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