Lord Mahavira

Author(s): C R Bhansali
Publisher: M and P Consultancy and Marketing Co Delhi

Page 11

10/Lord Mahavira
Spirituality is the essence of spirit or self or ultimate reality in being which comprises its right knowledge and right conduct in its relationship with the universe. It is beyond the material world and therefore immanent. Spiritual knowledge of the self requires its realization that one has capacity and aspiration to attain the highest and ultimate truth. Spirituality needs spirits in its purity which can be achieved only by right conduct and inwardness, intuition and mysticism. Ultimate reality is related to world until one reaches ultimate spiritual destiny.
According to Mahavira-"Soul is the central point of spiritual discipline. For spiritual realization he preached Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Nirvana (Salvation) cannot be attained without observing these three combinely. Prohibition of right-eating, drinking filtered water, worship of true God, observance of non-violence and detachment from all worldly affairs are main tenets of Mahavira.
Great personalities appear once in thousands of years but when they come to earth they prove to be a great boon to mankind. The life and Teaching of Lord Mahavira have inspired millions of people to take the noble path preached by him. The three principles of non-violence, non-absolutism and non-possession will guide mankind for all times to
come.
The significant achievement of Lord Mahavira's revolution in spiritual field was the upholding of the concept of Karma in place of the creator God. Man is the architect of his own destiny and he can rise only by his own efforts and not by the grace of any external agency. Every inexplicable event in the life of an individual occurs due to the karma accumulated in his previous birth, Lord Mahavira says— "Attachment and aversion are the root cause of Karma and