Practical Path

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 68

SAMVARA.
55
on the form, inaterial, and nature of the three
worlds). (xi) Bodhidurlabha bhāvanâ. -- Difficult is it to
acquire the human form; having acquired it, it is difficult to know the truth; having known the truth, it is difficult to have faith in it; having acquired faith in the truth, difficult it is to practise it; therefore, no opportunity should be lost in the acquisition of the Three Jewels (Right Faith, Right Know
ledge and Right Conduct).' alokâkasa, while the lokalása contains the remaining five substances, namely, jiva, matter, Time, Dharma and Adharma, without which there can be no universe. The form of the universe (lokakása) is that of a spindle resting on half of another, and resembles the figure of a man standing with his arms akimbo. The middle part of this man-shaped universe is called the madhyaloka (the middle region), the upper the urdhvaloku (celestial region) and the lower the adholoka (the nether region). The celestial region consists of sixteen heavens on eight storeys, nine upper heavens (graiveyalas), nine amudishas and five anuttaras (still higher regions of devas), with the place of residence of the Siddhâtmans at the extreme top. The madhyaloku comprises a very large number of continents and seas, with the Jambu dvipa, of which our little earth forms a part, in the centre. Below the madhyaloka are the dwellings of certain kinds of beings--bhavnavasin devas and others of their type. Below these are the seven hells, one on the top of another, while the lowest part of the universe is called nigoda.
As regards the conditions of life which prevail in the diflerent parts of the universe, the devas enjoy great felicity which increases the higher we ascend: In the lowest heavens, the devas and devångnás (wives of devas) enjoy long life and co-habit like human beings; they have no bones in their bodies, which are resplendent and shining, and capable of assuming any desired form by the mere force of will. As we rise higher in the celestial region, the method of the gratification of sex-passion becomes less and less gross in