Book Title: Samkit Faith Practice Liberation
Author(s): Amit B Bhansali
Publisher: Amit B Bhansali

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Page 190
________________ Thus, nishkaanshataa means that while practising good deeds and appropriate moral conduct, one should not desire worldly benefits. Nor should one consider the meritorious karmas that arise out of good deeds to be their own. 3. Nirvichikitsaa {not doubting the efficacy of ascetic conduct} Having no doubt about the results of ascetic conduct is known as nirvichikitsaa. The term vichikitsaa means doubting the efficacy of religious conduct. Hence, being free from this shortcoming is known as nirvichikitsaa. One who practices religious conduct because he desires some material benefits from it, is bound to be burdened by the weight of his own expectations. This makes him lose patience. He is no longer firm on the path of religious conduct and fails to attain the end result of all religious conduct - liberation. One who is samyakdrishti is firmly convinced that there is a consequence to each and every action. Whether he does good or bad, all his deeds of omission and commission, mind, speech and body, shall carry karmic consequences. Thus, religious conduct carried out with a pure heart is certain to bring about the appropriate result. Certain scholars define nirvichikitsaa as not feeling disgust at the bodies of Jain monks who are enjoined by religious laws to never bathe, never brush their teeth, etc. Jains believe that the body by its very nature is a carrier of filth and impurities. But the soul itself is pure. The body, despite being impure, houses the soul, which is intrinsically pure. Hence, one should not feel disgust, revulsion, nausea, loathing, dislike or horror for the body and instead reflect upon the noble attributes of the soul. This is true nirvichikitsaa. It is an essential attribute of samyaktva. 1) Feeling disgust, horror and revulsion towards the secretions of the body, its illnesses and impurities and considering religious acts to be beyond ones capacity is known as vichikitsaa. To be free from this feeling of loathing towards the body and its impurities is known as nirvichikitsaa. 2) The body is full of impurities and waste matter. But great ascetics, spiritual masters and renunciates use the body as a means to immerse themselves in meditation, self-control and penance. They take basic minimum care of the body as it is a vessel for them to reach their destination, but do not decorate it. There is no room for bodily vanity in their lives. Nirvichikitsaa is not feeling any disgust or revulsion upon seeing their unbathed bodies and their unkempt appearance. One who has samyaktva is a worshiper of good qualities. He ignores outward appearances and instead focuses on spiritual qualities. 187

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