Book Title: Mahavira Jayanti Smarika 1981
Author(s): Gyanchand Biltiwala
Publisher: Rajasthan Jain Sabha Jaipur

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Page 266
________________ hankers after external things for pleasure. He identifies himself with the material things end hence is in bondage. It is only when one attains his self and enjoys the bliss of the soul, that one gets rid of the charm of the external. "Thus the wise one withdraws his senses from the external objects of sense and remains intent on the self in the same way as the tortoise withdraws his. limbs from without" 99 Self-restraint (Samyama) is thus the mark of enlightenment. Lord Mahavira has called this equanimity to be the mark of dharma. (Samyame samoo hoi). 30 By conquering one's senses, one becomes self-restraint (Jina) and enjoys the joy of the soul One who does not know the bliss of the soul, hankers after tho external things, but that only proves to be a mirage. Self-restraint or Samyama is of two kinds-Controlling the senses and abstaining from injuring other Jivas. According to Lord Mahavira one who restrains one's hand, feet, mouth and the senses, who is rapt in self-contemplation and absorbed in one self, and knows the real meaning of the scriptures, is the real mendicant (Bhikshu)."31 7) Penance (Tapa): Tapa is cootrolling one's mind (Mano nigraho tapah). It is the attainment of the state or 'No-mind'. Ordinarily one is flowing in the stream of thought, feeling, memories, dreams, etc. The thought-current is involuntary and man has no control over it. But in the state of self-consciousness the activity of mind is stopped. The activity of mind is termed as karma. Hence according to Amrit Chandracharya, "Tapa is that by which the karma is burnt." (Karam Kshya kayartham yattapyate tat tapah smritam).32 The activity of mind continues only so long as there is ignorance. In the state of self-consciousness, peace, tranquility and bliss manifest themselves, and one has complete mastery over oneself. 8) Renunciation (Tyaga): In the state of ignorance, there is attachment (Murccha Parigrahah), 33 On the contrary, in the state of self-consciousness, there is detechment which is termed as Tyaga. Tyaga is being detached to whatever is not-self. It is coming closer to oneself. It is because of ignorance, that the self identifies 29. Sutrakritanga Sutra, 1/8/16. 30. Uttaradhyayan Sutra, 25/32. 31. 79 T Tru- a- faci #TIT UTAFETCT, AFERE a faring of a f 32. Tattvarthsara, 6/18. 33. Tattvartha Sutra, 7/17. (ataFif# , 10/15) 617 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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