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The Physical v/s The Psychical Holy-places
In the Jaina tradition the holy places have been classified as physical and psychical holy places". We can also call them as living and non-living or volitional or material holy places (tīrtha). Actually, (holy) rivers, lakes, etc. are immovable, unconscious, or material holy placeas, while the religious order, which adheres to the duties in accordance with the scriptures, is the psychical, conscious, volitional or living tīrtha and it is the only real tīrtha. Therein, the righteous are the helmsmen, the tri-gem (Ratnatraya) of right-vision, right-knowledge and right-conduct is the means of fording (such as boats etc.), and the miserable mundane world is the ocean to be forded across. The tri-gem of right-vision etc. which is instrumental in fording across the ocean of mundane ignorance etc. is the volitional pilgrimage. Passions anger, pride, deceit and greed are the spiritual blemishes. That which definitely removes them is the real tirtha.20 Actually, the religious order itself that helps in quenching the fire of anger etc. is the real tirtha. Thus, we see that the spiritual practice for the puification of
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- Śabdalkalpadruma – “Tīrtha”, p. 626. 19 Bhave tittham sangho suyavihiyam tārao tahimi sähū | Nanäitiyam taraṇam tariyavvam bhavasamuddo ya ||
- Viseṣāvasyaka Bhāṣya, 1032.
PREFACE: XXXV
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Jami năng—danisana—carittabhavao tavvivakkhabhāvão Bhavabhaao ya tarei tenam tam bhāvao tittham || koha-loha-kammamayadāha-taṇhaĪmalāvaṇayaṇāim
Taha
Eganteṇaccantani ca kunai ya suddhim bhavoghão Dahovasamaisu vā jam tisu thiyamahava dasangāīsu To tittham sangho ceiya ubhayam va visesanavisessam || Kohaggidahasamaṇādao va ceva jassa tinnatthä Hoi tiyattham tittham tamatthavaddo phalttho ayam || - Viseṣāvasyaka Bhāṣya, 1033-1039.
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