Jinamanjari 2001 04 No 23

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 30

understand the secret of a Jina's preaching incorporated in the āgamas.
Svacchandata or self-willedness is the main obstacle on the part of an aspirant which keeps him away from the association with a sadguru. Due to the preaching based on self-realization of an enlightened sadguru, defects like svacchanda etc. are removed and a disciple under the guidance of such a master realizes salvation. Some times it so happens that a disciple may surpass his master in spiritual experience and attain perfection before him but even then he does not give up his loyalty to his master.
The true disciple is rightly designated as an ātmārthi who really seeks the realization of the self. Śrīmad very briefly illustrates the characteristics on ātmārthi such as pacification of passions, genuine desire for liberation, detachment towards worldly ties and compassion for all living beings. An ātmārthi with such a qualification becomes worthy to receive preaching from sadguru which ultimately leads him to self-realization.
. We contend that the main purpose of śrīmad's Ātmasiddhi is an emphasis on the role of the sadguru for self-realization, which can easily be proved by the fact that śrīmad has devoted about 31 of the 142 verses of the Ātmasiddhi to describing the nature of the sadguru and his significance in successfully leading a genuine aspirant on the path of self-realization.
In the 30th year of his life śrīmad is solely concentrating on and waiting for an unprecedented opportunity to proceed further on the path of total salvation by climbing each and every rung of the spiritual ladder called gunasthāna from the 4 or 5th stage of vowless perception or right faith onward. Now, Srimad firmly holds that unless he embraces asceticism, it is difficult to attain final emancipation. Even for re-establishing the original doctrine or dharma of the Tirthankaras, renunciation of family, business etc. is a must for him. This urge for becoming both externally and internally possessionless (bahyāntara nirgrantha) is a central theme of one of śrīmad's works called Apūrva Avasara Eo Kyāre Avaše?, or 'When would that unprecedented opportunity dawn upon me?, composed in this year. It has
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