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THE JAINA GAZETTE He should study scriptures whereby the nature of reality is understood and the karmas are destroyed. Agama is his eye and guide. Faith originates from scriptural study and so does moral discipline. Neither mere scriptural knowledge without faith nor mere faith without moral discipline leads one to final liberation. A well controlled and learned ascetic can destroy the karmas very quickly. Even in the case of a learned monk a particle of attachment towards worldly objects works like a brake on the way to liberation.
Moral discipline consists in five fold carefulness, three-fold control, subjugation of senses and passions, acquisition of faith and knowledge, equal disposition towards friend or foe, equal attitude towards happiness and misery, and life and death. Perfect asceticism consists in absolute concentration on the triplejewel. A monk annihilates his karmas by giving up all his attitudes towards external things.
There is no karmic influx in the case of Sudd hopayoga while there is in the case of Subhopayoga. The characteristies of Subhopayoga are, piety towards Arhats, brotherly feeling lowards the learned, humility before the preceptor, acceptance of religious instruction and imparting the same to other pupils and feeding them.
In times of illness etc. one monk may help the other without doing any intial harm unto beings. Initial harm is unavoidable in the case of householders when they are rendering help to monks. In abnormal cases a monk may hold conversation with ordinary people it is subha for him. What is merely Subhain the case a monk may prove as a Dharma in the case of a househ older.
Even auspicious attitude may fruition otherwise according to the nature of things with which it is related. Practice of vows as prescribed by false and ignorant teachers will never lead to salvation-at the most that may bestow heavenly bliss. Men given to passions should never be respected. That man who is free from sin, who regards all religionists alike, and who has acquired a store of merits becomes a sharer of the path of salvation. It is pure and auspicious-souled men that lead us to liberation. Men of merits should properly be respected.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
