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Personality of Lord Mahâvîra and his Sermon at Champa
73
The worldly ocean has the accumulation of dirt from hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands lives and is apparently exceedingly dreadful. It has been made dark by the force of rushing particles of water moving up by the pressure of wind which is perception (mati) which in its turn in rendered dirty by a non-ending misery (miheccha). It is white only to the extent to which there is hope and hankering for what is yet to be attained. It is covered by a good-looking foam (consisting of infamy and disrespect). The worldly ocean has big whirls of attachment. They create circular movements of water which are the experiences. Thus the water of misery is visible, circling, restless, moving up and falling down. Inside the water, there are terrible and extremely wicked aquatics in the form of delusion. Being incessantly disturbed by the rise and fall of water, living beings in the ocean incessantly cry. Thus with (rising and) falling current of water of wounded worldly beings; the worldly ocean is full of great noise which emits a terrific sound.
Floating to and fro in the worldly ocean are the cleaver fish which are ignorance and the crocodiles which are the restless sense-organs. They move at a very quick pace. This disturbs the water which looks as if dancing, flowing from one place to another, whirling and restless. The worldly ocean has rocks such as sadness, fear, gloom, sorrow and falsehood. This is made uncrossable by the bondage of karma which comes down from an endless past, and also by the dirt of misery.
The ocean has devious turns/tides which are migrations to and from infernal life, animal life, human life and life in heaven, all together giving the impression of a tidal bore. This worldly ocean has four forms of existence, limitless and terrific. The monks in the order of Mahâvîra were quickly crossing through this terrific ocean with the help of a boat which is restraint and was held fast by a rope called patience. It is fitted with masts which are the checking of karma inflow and total detachment. Its sail is a pure white cloth which is knowledge. Pure equanimity is its (unfailing) boatman.
This boat which is restraint move fast with the help of the wind which is wholesome meditation and penance. This boat has been filled up by the monks with jars containing activity (absence of idleness), karma exhaustion, endeavour, knowledge, faith, pure
