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72. Revival of the True Faith
(3)
hrimad saw that Bhagwan Mahavir's message had virtually been lost in his time, with many caught up in excessive ritualism and others in pedantic, dry, philosophizing, all losing sight of the process of cultivating qualities and realising Soul. His heart cried out at the divisions he found: "O Lord! Either let my wish to revive the faith naturally subside or let it be fulfilled. Fulfillment seems most difficult since even on the smallest of issues, there are differences of opinion, which are very deep-rooted and have greatly distanced people from the right path. Their obstinate dogmatism means that it will be difficult to awaken in them a genuine desire for the True path."
Shrimad once outlined the necessary conditions for the revival of a True path : (1) That understanding Bodh Beej or Beej Gnan as originally preached by Jina,
be universally presented as the True path. That the message that obstinate dogmatism cannot lead to the welfare of the Soul be understood and spread widely. That religion be understood as following the guidance of a living True
Guru. (4) That light be cast on the philosophy of Soul and matter and on the
understanding of the Soul. That monks conduct themselves with true detachment and renunciation. That light be cast on the nine fundamental realities, Nav Tattva.
That light be cast on the path to be followed by Monks. (8) That light be cast on the path to be followed by Householders. (9) Introspection.
(10) That many Souls attain Samyag Darshan.
Shrimad was worthy of such a task, and the following attests to his inner state: "'Those for whom nothing is loved or unloved, for whom there is neither friend nor foe, who are free from the dualities of honour-insult, joy-sorrow, gain-loss and lifedeath, and who have thus come to, are coming to, and will come to rest, in their pure conscious nature, cause joyous wonder."
Shrimad was again ready to renounce the world and wander as an ascetic, and also begin the enormous and noble task of spreading the True message of Bhagwan Mahavir. He again sought his mother's blessing. She was, however, concerned that his weak body would not survive the physically demanding path of renunciation. Soon, as she feared, in VS 1956, Shrimad began to suffer from an incurable disease.
