Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 41

bitterness, but the soul considers it as bitter. That is also indiscretion. Discernment consists of identifying the right knowledge and perception, which have been obscured by ignorance and wrong perception; one needs to turn towards the true ambrosial nature. Now tell me how vital is discernment?
Pupils: Oh sir, it is true to state that discernment is the root of religion and gives protection to it. It is also true that without discernment it is not possible to make out the true nature of soul. As you correctly pointed out, true knowledge, right conduct, religious approach, basic fundamentals, true austerities etc. cannot arise in absence of discernment. One, who is not imbibed with discernment, is ignorant and dumb; he remains stuck with differences of opinion and wrong perception. We will always keep in mind your instruction about discernment.
Lesson 52: Why have the enlightened advocated detachment?
You might remember what we have said earlier about the nature of worldly life. The enlightened beings have termed it full of grief, infinitely unhappy, disorderly, unsteady and ephemeral. They seem to have thought fully well before applying those adjectives. The soul has been wandering in the worldly life along with its infinite transmigration, infinite ignorance, infinite affliction, infinitely dying and infinite mourning It has remained immersed in the apparently illusive charm of worldly life and does not think of happiness anywhere else.
On account of delusion the soul has not even conceived of true happiness and the nature thereof. Its enticement of the worldly life is identical to a butterfly's jumping in lamplight. The enlightened beings do not see happiness therein even for a moment. Not a single point in the worldly life has been left without poison. In terms of attachment there is uniformity of all beings from a pig to a sovereign ruler. In other words, the attachment of a pig for the worldly life is, in no way, less than that of a sovereign. While the sovereign exercises authority over his subjects, he has to bear the responsibility thereof; the pig has not to bear anything of that sort. In fact, bearing of responsibility is more exacting than exercising of authority.
The enticement of a pig for its mate is in no way less than that of a sovereign for his wife. A pig is enticed to the worldly life with the same intensity as a sovereign avails the worldly pleasure. While a sovereign avails the abundance of affluence, he has also to worry in proportion to that. Both of them have been born and are going to die. Both of them are equally subject to transience, disease and old age.
In material respect the sovereign is mightily powerful; he is imbibed with much wholesome Karma and avails the highly comfortable situations, while the poor pig is bearing uncomfortable ones. But in a way both of them undergo comforts as well as discomforts. The sovereign wields much authority, but if he stays deluded during the life, he is going to lose everything. The sovereignty is a highly esteemed state; there is no comparison of a sovereign with a pig in that respect, but there is comparability in the following respects. Both of them are contemptuous in availing sensuous pleasure and both the bodies contain meat, puss etc.
When this is the state of the topmost position in the world, when such unhappiness, impermanence, triviality and blinding prevail even in that state, where else can we conceive of happiness? That does not constitute happiness. Still if you think it to be happy, the happiness, which is associated with fear and impermanence, is really unhappiness. In view of infinite pain, infinite grief and infinite unhappiness associated with worldly life the enlightened beings have turned their backs towards it. And that is correct; it is not worth looking at it. There is mere misery and unhappiness; it is the sea of miseries. Detachment is the only reliable way that can lead to the infinite happiness.
Lesson 53: Lord Mahävir's Order