Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 51

low state of existence; the cycle of their worldly life continues to move unabated. Their valuable human life goes in vain; they are invariably miserable.
“There are those, who retain the bare means of livelihood and who go in for limited activities. They observe truth, monogamy, contentment, vows and restraints. They are benevolent and try to protect all the living beings; they hold low level of attachment and possessions, they study scriptures and serve the enlightened; they have aspiration for renunciation and live much like the renounced ones; they maintain a high level of detachment and discernment. Such persons happily spend their life with purity.
“There are those, who are free from all sorts of involvement and accumulation, who continue to move without getting tied to any object, place, time or mode; they hold equanimity towards friends and foes; they spend their time in contemplating about the pure soul or stay absorbed in study. Blessed are such unattached ones, who have controlled their sense-organs and defilements.
*There are those, who have destroyed all the defiling Karmas, whose non-defiling Karmas have been thinned, who are liberated, and who are omniscient, omni percipient and perfectly blissful. They eternally abide in infinite bliss in the state of liberation by being freed from Karma.
"Here I go along the opinions of the enlightened beings. Of the above four categories, the first is to be averted, the second is acceptable at present and I advise to adopt the same. The third is highly acceptable. The fourth is the embodiment of truth, consciousness and bliss, and is universally acceptable.
"Punditji, these have been our talks about happiness; we shall continue to discuss the same from time to time and will contemplate over it. I am happy that I could give vent to my thoughts and my happiness has gone up to know that you feel comfortable with the same.'
While thus talking among themselves they were highly pleased and quietly went to bed. Those discerning people, who will think over the matter, will gain the truth and will reach a very high spiritual level. The characteristics of those with reduced level of undertaking, those freed from all undertakings, and of the liberated ones mentioned above need to be contemplated at length. Reducing the involvement to the extent possible, turning attention towards the common good, and resorting to benevolence, compassion, peace, forgiveness and purity lead to much happiness. It hardly needs to be said anything about the renounced state, and the state of liberation is infinitely blissful.
Lesson 67: Invaluable Contemplation
Bahu Punyakerä Punjathi Shubh Deh Mänavno Malyo, Toye Are! Bhavchakrano Anto Nahi Ekke Talyo; Sukh Präpta Karatän Sukh Tale Chhe Lesh E Lakshe Laho, Kshan Kshan Bhayankar Bhävmarane Kän Aho Rächi Raho. (1)
This blessed human life has been obtained as a result of much accumulated wholesome Karma. Alas, however, that not a single round of life cycle has been reduced thereby! At least bear in mind that true happiness is lost by endeavoring for worldly pleasure. Why then relish a life style that involves frightful spiritual death every moment!
Explanation: It is evident that while undergoing the cycle of births and deaths, we must have procured this human life by virtue of immense wholesome Karmas. We can get out of that cycle only during the human life. We should therefore earnestly spend this life to that end. It is, however, regrettable that instead of doing so we happen to spend the life in procuring material happiness that does not last. Such a worldly endeavor results in exhausting the wholesome Karma and in losing the opportunity to gain the lasting happiness. For a thinking person that loss is as good as death. It is really amazing that we continue to indulge in such spiritual death.