Sambodhi 2014 Vol 37

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 69

Vol. XXXVII, 2014 The Moral Codes of the Swaminarayanism and of the Jainism : 61 as Maharaja says : 'Just as there does not occur a hole in the slab of a stone, similarly there is not the least hole in the form of happiness in the stone-slab of unhappiness.' (p.8) When the flow in the form of the pure thought, associated with detachment starts gliding then this attachment is removed from the mind, intellect and the heart. Money is the cause of much misdeed. So long as money is not acquired, the qualities like peace of mind, self-control, and others reside in the person desiring liberation. Hence, Maharaja says: 'O Paramahansas ! Whatever there is, it is the root of calamity'. (p.10). To adopt oneself the form of Aksharabrahma and realize the Supreme Self (paramatma) is the only means of removing this calamity. This state of Akshara-brama is acquired through the supreme spiritual learning (para-vidya). The knowledge that is contained in the existent Self 'is called Brahma; and the Brahma which is in the form of knowledge is extremely pure due to being beaming the supreme object.' (p.18). 'For this reason, it is but proper that the bondage is removed by the knowledge through the tradition of the Gurus. (p.18) That existence of the Brahma is known through the experience. 'For the person who accepts money' even after getting the experience, 'there occurs a change in the four vows (vartamana) of lack of desires, lack of covetousness, lack of taste and lack of pride. Then he enjoys the sense-objects and the Selfexperience is destroyed.' (p.20). Maharaja has uttered the words of warning that even after this type of the experience of Brahma, the contact with money makes one fall from that state, for this reason that one should remain cautions about this obstacle. But, it should be adopted by trusting the state of mastery (siddha-sthiti). There are two intentions in this caution : One is that which has been said in the Gita, 'the way in which great men behave, his disciples follow him accordingly.' Secondly, Bhagavan Veda Vyasa has explained in the Shrimad Bhagavata, during the narrative of Bhagavan Rishabhadeva that 'even if the Yogi has become full master (samsiddha), the mind should never be trusted.' While talking about many types of inoney, the glimpse of the original language of Maharaja is easily discernible in the words like sono (gold), rupo (silver), trambo (copper), siso (lead), etc. Hence, this, too, is a proof of the authenticity of this letter. Maharaja has laid very much emphasis, however, on the vow of lack of desires. In the Vachanamrit also he has said : 'the day we have manifested, from that day we have been making the vow of the lack of desire very much firm.'