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RELIGION & CULTURE OF THE JAINS
fection, is fully enlightened and absolutely free from the bondage of karman, and whose contemplation destroys all spiritual aberrations, reside in my heart.
18. I seek refuge in the Supreme Lord (Apta)*, who is untouched by the contamination of the karman just as the rays of the sun remain unaffected by the thick mass of darkness, and who is pure (stainless), eternal, one and many.
19. I seek asylum in the supreme Lord, who, though stays concentrated in His own self and is not of the world, nor in the world, diffuses the light of true knowledge, illuminating the entire universe like no sun can.
20. The Āpta Lord is my refuge, who is pure, blissful, full of peace, beginningless and endless and by secing whom the entire universe becomes clearly and distinctly obvious. 21. I have found refuge in the Lord Āpta who has annihilated sexual desire, pride, delusion, sorrow, sleep, fear, grief and anxiety, just as forest fire destroys the mass of trees.
22. No particular seat, such as a mat of gross, wooden plank, a stone slab, or bare ground, has been formally prescribed (for a person to sit on while in meditation); the best and purest seat, for the wise, is however, his own Self which has driven out all the sensual and passional foes. 23. O' Noble One ! (the material) scat, homage paid by the world, and associating with the order of ascetics are not the means for attaining concentrated spiritual meditation; give up all desire for external objects and somehow be remained absorbed in thy spiritual Self always. 24. O' Noble One ! having realised the truth that external objects (other than the Self) can in no way be thine, nor thou can ever be theirs, renounce all outside connections and gain
* Apta is one who is spiritually pure and perfect, is all-knowiny, and is the expounder of the truth of the good of all.
