Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 19

The spiritual philosophers urge to contemplate over the following twelve modes in order to set in mind the sense of detachment and other attributes beneficial to soul.
1 To contemplate that the body, prosperity, wealth, family, other relations and everything else is temporary and destructible while the soul is indestructible constitutes the first contemplative mode of impermanence.
2 To contemplate that no one in the world can be helpful at the time of death and that only the true religion becomes helpful that time constitutes the second contemplative mode of helplessness.
3 To contemplate that while drifting in the worldly sea this soul has been in all types of species from time to time, that this worldly life does not belong to me, that liberation is my true state and to ponder over, *when would I be free from the worldly shackles' constitutes the third contemplative mode of worldliness.
4 To contemplate that my soul is alone, that it has come here alone, would leave alone and would alone bear the consequences of its Karmas constitutes the fourth contemplative mode of aloneness.
5 To contemplate that nothing in the world belongs to me and everything is different from me constitutes the fifth contemplative mode of otherness.
6 To contemplate that the body is impure, it is the storage of urine and stool, it is the abode of disease and old age, and I am different from the body constitutes the sixth contemplative mode of impurity.
7 To contemplate that attachment, resentment, ignorance, wrong perception etc. lead to the acquisition of Karma constitutes the seventh contemplative mode of influx of Karma.
8 To contemplate that by resorting to knowledge and meditation one does not acquire new Karmas constitutes the eighth contemplative mode of preventing the influx of Karma.
9 To contemplate that undertaking a ritual with awareness of its purpose leads to eradication of Karma constitutes the ninth contemplative mode of eradication of Karma.
10 To contemplate about rising, constancy and passing away of every phenomenon in the universe constitutes the tenth contemplative mode of the nature of universe.
11 To contemplate that it is hard for the worldly soul to gain the right perception, and if gained, it is hard to observe totally restrained life constitutes the eleventh contemplative mode of rarity of right pursuit.
12 To contemplate that it is hard to come across a true Guru and to listen to the instructions about the holy scriptural texts constitutes the twelfth contemplative mode of rarity of true guidance.
While deeply and continually contemplating over these twelve modes the wise men have gained the supreme state; the same can happen at present and will happen in future.
Lesson 22: Kämvev
Kämdev was one of the lay followers of Lord Mahavir. He was observing all the twelve restraints meant for laymen. He was imbibed with discernment and was firmly inclined towards the words of disentangled Lord. Indra, the chief of heaven, once showed admiration in his assembly for the firm and stable mind of Kämdev in religious sphere. One of his subordinate deities could not believe it. He said to himself, 'That is okay, everyone remains celibate so long as he does not have a female; similarly everyone stays firm and bears hardships so long as they are not acute; I will prove it by moving Kämdev from his steadfastness.