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CHAPTER-VII
327
Then he argues-“They (the animals) endure the afflictions due to helplessness but Nirjara is caused to him who practises fasting, etc. penances willfully with religious feeling."
Answer: One may practise external fasting, etc. with religious feeling and Upayoga (attention) may be found engrossed in inauspicious, auspicious or pure (passionless) state. If the rule be that “by practising more fasts, etc. moreNirjara (shedding ofkarmas) is caused and by practising less fasts, etc. less Nirjara is caused”, then fasting, etc. only would be proved to be the main cause of Nirjara. But this is not correct (valid). How is Nirjara possible by practising fast, etc. with vicious thoughts?
If it is said that bondage and shedding of karmas occur in accordance with inauspicious, auspicious & pure states of Upayoga, then how could fasting, etc. penances be treated as the main cause of Nirjara? The inauspicious and auspicious thoughts are proved to be the cause of bondage and the pure thought activity (Shuddha Bhava) the cause of Nirjara.
Question: Why then in Tattvarthasutra this maxim - "709479 Faruker " (9/3) i.e., Nirjara is caused by penance is stated?
Answer: In the Shastra it is also stated "ERIARTERKTY: 1" which means restraining the desire is penance. So, if on mitigation of auspicious and inauspicious type of desires, the Upayoga becomes pure (passionless), there Nirajara is caused. Therefore, Nirjara is said to be caused by penance.
Here he says. "The penance is possible only on giving up the inauspicious desires of taking food, etc. but the desire of auspicious acts like fasting and expiation still persists?"
Answer: The true believers have no desire of fasting, etc., they have only the desire of Shuddhopayoga and because Shuddhopayoga increases by observing fast, etc., therefore, they observe fast, etc. And if they feel that Shuddhopayoga is likely to become weak due to weakness in the body or lack of enthusiasm in thoughts by observing fast, etc., then they take food, etc. If the purpose (of Shuddhopayoga) is achieved only by fasting, etc., then why did Ajitnatha etc., twenty
1. Dhawla, vol.13, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sutra 26, Page 54.
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