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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
rescues beings from the miseries and upholds them in excellent bliss.
Dharma proclaimed by the Jinas is characterised by inoffensiveness and universal love. It is established on truth. It is rooted in humility (vinaya), its strength lies in forbearance (kṣamā). It is protected by chastity (brahmacarya). Its chief feature is quiescence (upaśama). Its mark is restraint. And its prop is non-possession and non-attachment (nisparigraha). It is because of their not attaining dharma that the beings have been suffering and coursing in endless cycle of births and deaths.
Dharma is well taught by the Jinas for the benefit of the world of beings. Those who are devoted to its practice can easily cross over the ocean of worldly existence. Dharma is the kinsman of those without kinsmen, the companion of those without companions, the protector of those without protection; it is indeed the only affectionate one of the whole world. Dharma protects one from degradation and downfall. It bestows upon beings that glory of the Omniscient which is incomparable.
Dharma is the means of attaining all the good things and true happiness. One becomes adorable through dharma. Dharma is the source of good in human life as well as in heaven. In short, dharma taught by the Jinas is the destroyer of all sufferings. Contemplation on the powers, attributes, greatness and glories of dharma is what is called the reflection on dharmasväkhyātatva.
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Sectarianism, communalism, narrow-mindedness and vain pride dishonour dharma and make one indulge in slandering and cavilling.
So as not to deviate from the path of dharma and so as to bring about steadiness in one's practice of it one must reflect: "How highly fortunate it is that dharma full of doing good to the entire mass of living beings has been preached by the virtuous personages."
Bhāvanā or anuprekṣā1 means deep reflection. In case a piece of reflection happens to be veracious, wholesome and deep, it prevents the onset of the tendencies like attachment and aversion. Hence, it is that such
1. The essence of all the soteriological reflections is found in the following verse: mano vaco me caritam ca santatam
pavitratävähi yada bhavisyati /
tada bhaviṣyami yathärtham unnataḥ
kṛtārthajanmä paramaprasadabhäk // (Author of the present work)
Translation: When all my mental, vocal and bodily activities become absolutely free from passions and thereby eternally pure, I shall attain the highest state of real spiritual welfare; my human birth will achieve the supreme goal and I shall be experiencing the perennial infinite bliss.
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