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66
THE JAINA GAZETTE
again is it due merely to temples. The sight of temples in the crowded towns never induces the same calm. Although I more than ever realised in Sri Sonagirji the peculiar charm of a round dome with a spire on top, whether it surmounts a Jainalaya. Shivalaya or a mosque or Mausoleum. We should speak the truth, in a sweet subdued tone; for the good of others; without passion ; and always with motherly care that we do not hurt the feelings of others. If we speak and write in this spirit, half the misery, nakedness, barrenness, and desolation of life would end.
We can unite the Diganabara Jainas of the 13 and 20 Paathis sects ; the Digambars and Svetambars themselves; then Jainas and Hindus; then Hindus and Mohammadans; then all Indians : thep the Empire : then Humanity : then all lite. All these gradations have to be passed before we can have full Realisation of Life or Life clad in Matter in Samsara.
Siddha Sila. I want to know the true condition of my future Abode: Nirvana. Nirvana-space or Siddha Sila is 45 lącs Yojanas in diameter, corresponding to the 23 dvipas, from which alone a soul attains Nirvana from a human embodiment in a Karma Bhumi, Then the freed soul flashes in one Samaya across 7 rajus straight up to the summit of the Loka. It follows then that Siddha Kshetra is peopled only where it is just above the Karmabhumis. i. q. 15 bhumis (1. Bharat, 1. Airavata and I. Videhą in Jambų dvipa round the central Meru ; and 12 similar bhumis for the remaining 4 Merus). In all there are 15 small peopled parts in Siddha Sila, From this it may seen that the rest is void. But as on exceptional occasions, souls can reach Nirvaną from other parts of human regions, i.e. the 2} dvipas and this has happened from infinite eternity, the other parts of Siddha Sila also are equally thickly and luminously occupied by liberated souls.
But as the 2 Videhas, Eastern and Western of each Meru count as only one Karmabhumi, the 15 parts in Siddha Kshetra corresponding to the 15 Karmgbhumis in 23 dvipas, are more
principally poppled. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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