Manava Dharma

Author(s): Bhurmal Shastri, Nihalchandra Jain
Publisher: Aacharya Gyansagar Vagartha Vimarsha Kendra

Page 18

foreword
Every Shravak, a noble soul, is aspirant for final (Highest) liberation from pains and miseries; he aims at achieving complete freedom from birth and re-birth; he keenly desires to be eternally happy and peaceful.
The Acharyas - the greatest spiritual leaders - have been, from time to time, showing Practical Path stressing on the fact that when one, who undergoes a prescribed rigourous course of self-discipline, he is bound to be the perfect soul, the Sidha, who, such an Elevated Soul, would enjoy the Infinite Bliss, Infinite Happiness, and Infinite Peace, without being lost even for a moment.
Ratnakaranda Shravakachara, is a classic composed by a great scholar Acharya Swami Samantbhadra of 2nd century A. D. It very systementically shows the course of action-Achar-to be adopted for reaching the Top-the stage of perfection - Sidhatva. It is a'JewelBoxcontaining 150 Jewels-the shlokas (the verses). Respected Brahmachari Shri Bhuramal ji (Known later as Reverend Acharya Shri Gyanasagarji) has opened the Jewel Box' He, in his own way, picked up each Jewel one by one, explaining its intent, purpose and meaning in his Hindi version, captioned as "Manava Dharma, with the mission that a common man would also appreciate it and be benefitted by,
it.
It was the sincerity of purpose and compassionate feelings for one and all Manavas that Shri Brahmachari ji could so lucidly present 'Manava Dharma' worth in Gold. The narration of aptly suited anectodes, with illustrations, keeps the reader throughout absorbed in enjoying the subject easily.
The beauty of Manava Dharma' is that though it, too, convincingly re-assures and re-establishes a cent-percent guarantee that howsoever imperfect one may feel one-Self, every Manava, who has strong determination, he, with the assistance of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, would not only gradually become Maha-Manava, but would finally be a perfect soul, (Sidha) In his valuable treatment of the subject, the author cautions to keep in mind that every soulthe Atma sees, knows, realizes Himself by himself and, therefore, the Atma Himself is the cause of liberation.
Out of more than thirty great works of Guru Guru, (Rev. Acharya Shri Gyan Sagar ji Maharaj) Rev. Muni Shri Sudha Sagar ji Maharaj picked up ‘Manava Dharma' and entrusted