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THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
of the soul. The light of the Sun is one, but its capacity for illumination varies with the density of the clouds, or other obstruc. tions.
णाणगुणेहि विहीणा एवं तु पदं वहवि ण लहंति । तं गिराह सुपदमेदं जदि इच्छसि कम्मपरिमोक्खं ॥२२१॥ ज्ञानगुणैर्विहीना एतत्तु पदं बहवोऽपि न लभन्ते । तगृहाण सुपदमिदं यदीच्छसि कर्मपरिमोक्षं ॥ २२१ ॥
221. And being devoid of the attribute of knowledge, many souls do not attain this status (self-absorption). Therefore, adopt this high status, if you want Liberation from Karmas.
Commentary. Special emphasis is here laid on the importance of acquiring
f-knowledge. Even great ascetics, who follow the strict discipline and rules of conduct laid down for saints, and practise severe austerities, cannot attain self-absorption without self-knowledge. The person, who wants to be liberated from all worldly cares and unbearable pains, and who aspires after true and independent happiness, must discard all other thought-activities and take shelter in the knowledge of his own real self with firm and unshakeable conviction. He must attain self-absorption. It is the bright fire which burns material Karmas to ashes, which frees the soul from Karmic bondage, and which makes it shine like the purest gold free from all dirt and alloy.
अपरिग्गहो अणिच्छो भणिदो णाणीय णिच्छदे धम्म । अपरिग्गहो दु धम्मस्स जाणगो तेण सो होदि ॥२२२॥ अपरिग्रहोऽनिच्छो भणितो ज्ञानी च नेच्छति धर्म । अपरिग्रहस्तु धर्मस्य ज्ञायकस्तेन स भवति ॥ २२२ ॥
222. Desireless is said to be possessionless. So the knower does not desire even merit-bringing (conscious attentiveness). Therefore, not adopting merit-bringing (activity), he remains the knower only.
Commentary. He who has no desire for any non-self object is really a person without any possession. This is why a right knower does not wish
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