Jinamanjari 2001 04 No 23

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

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remained an unfulfilled dream of Srimad.
Srimad's insistence on sadguru, satsanga, satśāstra, sadācāra, saddharma etc. still persists in his writings of this year. śrīmad propounds that for right knowledge (samyak jñāna) the study of scriptures containing a Tirthankara's preaching (parama śruta) is a must. But a sadguru alone can reveal the secret of self-realization incorporated in satśāstra, based on the instructions given by Tirthankaras. A sadgurus words are like a canon. In his absence, the canonical literature based on the teaching of a Tirtharikara as well as a sadguru's (published) teachings are of paramount value for an aspirant.
Not much writing is available pertaining to the 31st and the 325 year of śrīmad's life. In item No. 816, 817, 824, 825 and 831 of the book śrīmad Rajacandra orly passing reference is made to the importance of the sadguru and satsästra, while in item No. 837 the characteristics of the sadguru such as self-knowledge (ātma jñāna), equanimity (samadarsitā), extraordinary language (apūrva vāṇī), supreme teaching (parama śruta) etc. are quoted, which are also mentioned in verse No. 10 of the Armasiddhi. Śrimad states that these qualities refer to a master belonging to the 6th and the 13th spiritual stage only. A person remaining in the 4th and the 5th stage of a householder is incapable of becoming a sadguru. The duration of the spiritual stages from the 7th (gth) to the 12th is too short to assume the role of the master, while there is absence of right perception and knowledge in the spiritual stages below the 4th one. A person belonging to these stages, being himself ignorant, cannot rightly act as a guide to the aspirants.
In the years 1900-1901 Śrīmad's literary activities are considerably slowed down. Out of the 60 items composed in these years, more than half are the letters written to the close devotees and disciples such as Muni Laghurāj (Lallubhāi), Ambālāl Lālcand, Mansukhlāl Kiratcand, Sukhlāl Chaganlāl, etc. Perhaps because of the fast deterioration of his health, śrīmad could not write more than a few lines in each letter. Also he frequently highlights the importance of the sadguru, satsāmagama, satśāstra, parama śruta etc., but nothing new is added to these concepts by him.
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