Jainism Some Essays

Author(s): A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 84

Bhaktimarga and Jainism
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outside?" Acaranga Sutra, 118). It is only formally that one is called a
friend or a foe, because the other person can only create a situation but to submit to it or not is in his own hands. One cannot enjoy happiness or experience misery so long as he does not identify himself with a situation. Therefore, the cause of happiness or misery lies in one's own reaction or identification with the situation. And to be influenced or to be identified with a particular occasion or situation is exclusively one's own matter. Therefore, the soul itself is, really speaking, its own friend or enemy and no one else.
(2) One himself should destroy his own Karmas :-All beings are originally similar. Whatever dissimilarity apppears, is because of the Karmas done by them severally. It is they themselves who have to strive for freedom from them. No Isvara or Tirthankara can directly uplift the being. What utmost they can do is to show the road and establish the Tirtha or order. Acarya Amitagati expresses the same opinion in this stanza :
स्वयं कृतं कर्म यदात्मना पुरा फलं तदोयं लभते शुभाशुभम्, परेण दत्तं यदि लभ्यते स्फुटं स्वयं कृतं कर्म निरर्थकं तदा । निजार्जितं कर्म विहाय देहिनो न कोऽपि कस्यापि ददाति किंचन, विचारयन्न वमनन्यमानसः परो ददातीति विमुञ्च शेमुषीम् ॥
In the programme of annihilation of the Karmas, self-control occupies a predominent place. If all other things help accelerate the speed of selfrealizalion and increase the degree of self-control, they have a place in the schedule; other wise not. To train the mind for equipoise or equanimity to all beings and to desist from every activity that militates against the feeling or idea of non-injury is named self-control or self-restraint. Detachment and egolessness will gradually evolve from this and an attitude of universal brotherhood or love will result. The outlook of no love, no hatred will be strengthened and the aspirant will reach his goal of supreme achievement. This climaxes his gain.
(3) There is no disparity amongst the liberated souls :-When a being reaches to top, he has, then, none to worship. There remains no difference between his nature and the nature of those who have got liberation before he did. All the liberated souls become equal and remain absorbed in contemplation of the self.
(4) The liberated do no good and no bad :-When a being works out his final freedom, his relationship with the mundane world automatically comes to a stop. He remains a mere spectator of the world like the Puruşa