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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
ACCS.
that in spite of whatever he gets through those so many evil acts he will still remain miserable, nay, will become more miserable, then he will not have an urge to do evil acts.
It is useful to contemplate on the fact that this world is full of miseries, there is no end to natural calamities; howsomany efforts we may put in, it is utterly impossible to remove all of them completely. When such is the situation, is it proper to increase miseries by nurturing mutual indifference through mutual injustice and selfishness? It is necessary to bear in mind that we ourselves create innumerable miseries and add to the already existing ones by our own defects. By developing good humanitarian qualities as also by fostering universal friendliness, we should try to decrease the miseries in the world as far as possible. This is the objective of the present reflection.
In order that craving for the world of transmigration is done away with, a feeling of resignation or indifference has to be cultivated in relation to the things of the world. And with a view to diverting attention from such things one must reflect as follows: "In this beginningless cycle of births and deaths, there is in fact none who is own to me and none who is alien to me. For in the course of so many births, all sorts of relations have been established between me and all the beings that are there. Wandering across the endless cycle of births and deaths, passing through millions of crises in innumerable wombs and families, one assumes different forms of relationship, such as father, son, grandson and so on, or mother, wife, sister, daughter and so on. In this process of endless repetition, the master becomes the servant, and the servant the master, the mother becomes the wife, and the wife the mother; and so on. This is ridiculous and disgusting. Similarly, the beings of the world burning with attachment, aversion and delusion, and entertaining cravings for things sensuous are out to devour one another and suffer unbearable hardships as a result of a behaviour of that sort. Really speaking, this world is a garden nurturing the couples-of-opposites like joy-and-sorrow, pleasureand-pain, etc., and is truly full of tortures." Thus, one who is disgusted with the ridiculous and terrifying nature of the world of transmigration works for one's deliverance, the Final Release.
(4) Reflection on aloneness (ekatva) In order to attain liberation feeling of aloofness has to be constantly evoked on the occasion of attachment and aversion. For that, the attach
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