________________
94
THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
157. The attached (soul) binds karmas; The detached soul liberates itself (from them). Such (is) the preaching of Therefore do not indulge in karmas.
the conqueror.
Commentary.
Emphasis is here laid upon the supreme self-discipline of avoidance of all attachments, good or bad, The Bhakti marga, intense attachment for saints, and Sadhus, Shasana and Shastra, would certainly be meritorious leading to the higher regions of Bliss, but would still perpetuate transmigration, and not bring about Liberation. But one should not misunderstand the teaching. If one is unable to fix his attention to contemplation of the pure self, he may well follow the path of Virtue but he must strive all the while to ascend the higher spiritual stages, by gradual but constant Souladvancement.
परमो खलु समझो सुद्धो जो केवली मुखी गाणी | तमिठिदा सब्भावे मुणिणो पावंति शिव्त्राणं ॥ १५८ ॥ परमार्थः खलु समयः शुद्धो यः केवली मुनिर्ज्ञानी । तस्मिन् स्थिताः स्वभावे मुनिनः प्राप्नुवंति निर्वाणं ॥ १५८ ॥
158. The highest substance, the pure soul, is certainly the all-knowing wise saint. Absorbed in such self-contemplation, saints attain liberation.
Commentary.
The soul absorbed in self-realisation is the real saint. He who is not so self-absorbed, but only follows the thirteen pointed external conduct of a saint, namely the observance of the five great vows, the 5 Samities, and the three Gupties, cannot be called a true saint. He may be called a saint from the practical point of view. A wrong believer with all the external conduct of a saint can in no way be a saint. He is only in the first stage, that of wrong belief. The self-absorbed soul of the all-knowing Arhat is really the Omniscient and the perfect soul. His calm posture, his outward glory, his worship by celestials, etc., do not make him an Arhat. The Arhat is his own pure soul only. Those who are fully convinced of this, and try to realise their own soul-nature can be liberated, and not those who have got even a touch of attachment for the non-soul; merit or demerit.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
