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THE JAINA GAZETTE very idea of anthropomorphism lowers the nature of Divinity and thereby retards spiritual progress.
The second is known as Loka Mudha which consists in “bathing in (the so-called sacred) rivers and oceans, setting up heaps of sands and stones (as objects of worship), immolating oneself by falling from a precifice or by being burnt up in fire (as in Sati)." A man of Faith will have to discard such superstitious conventions which are nothing but the effects of false knowledge which is a stumbling block on the path of spiritualism. It would be a defect in Faith if we have any attachment to false sanctity with a false belief that it would acquire merit for us. Jains are against the practice of Sali which is also denounced by some non-Jain writers. If we analyse the mental conditions of a girl falling in the burning flames of her husband we will find that Sati is in no way short of suicide which deserves discouragement both from social and spiritual points of view.
The third is known as Pakhandi Mudha "which consists in the worshipping of false ascetics revolving in the wheel of Samsar [births and deaths), who have neither renounced worldly goods, nor occupations, nor himsa (causing injury to others)." Many of us come across 'ascetics' who are not real ascetics but mere dealers in various miraculous commodities; the poor are deluded and often times deprived of their possessions. A man of faith is warned to be careful about these spiritually-robed rogues. Ascetics must be free from worldly attachments and then alone they deserve respect from their devotees. No one who is in touch with newspapers is ignorant of such false ascetics who deceive the poor mass in the name of divine gifts; and many of them see prisons for their criminal offences.
Further Right Faith must be free from eight kinds of vanity or pride. Feeling of pride is mere delusion as it results from extra-valuing of things. Pride about a thing, be it internal or external is due to not understanding the real value of the thing in itself and in relation with other things. Is then false valuing guaranteed for a man of Faith? Generally eight causes of pride are mentioned by Acharyas. "Mada or pride is the
intoxication of the self in respeet of eight particulars ; i. lerning Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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