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Jinadatta Śrāvaka, went to Guņa śila Caitya out of curiosity. Lepa Śrèşthi told śramaņa Bhagavâna Mahāvîra saying-Bhagavan! Is the explanation given about Adhyātma (supreme soul) by my Guru Sivabhati, true or false ?
Bhagavāna:-0 Śresthî ! There are four kinds of Adhyatma viz 1 Näma Adhyātma 2 Sthāpană Adhyātma 3. Dravya Adhyätma and 4. Bhâva Adhyātma A clear understanding of the first three varieties of Adhyatma leads to Bhāva Adhyatma. Persons with Bhāva Adhyātma can only attain accomplishment of their cherished object The other three do not do so. It is not correct to say I know Adhyatma and I have been experiencing its happiness, Adhyātma is not a corporeal substance like a pot or a cloth, and it cannot be utilized for giving or taking. With such an Adhyatma there may be genuine Adhyatma or there may be no Adhyātma at all. Useful Adhyātma has genuine Adhyatma closely incorporated in it. None except satya-adhyātna (genuine adhyatma) is serviceable for the elevation of the Soul. The happiness of the Indra or of the Dogunduka god is like a drop in an ocean when compared with the wide ocean of Adhyātma Jnāna (knowledge of the Soul). Without the true knowledge of the nature of the Soul, persons well-versed in Logic and in Vairāgya (disgust towards worldly enjoyments) may advance a number of assertions in support of their well-cherished hypothetical theori. es, but they are all worthless arguments. They all increase the wandering in the Sarisāra
Lépa Śresthi -- Bhagavan! What must be the nature of the Adhyātma that you are talking about ?
Bhagavāna:-O Śrésthi ! Keeping oneself engaged in observing correct relig.ous rituals for the elevation of his Soul, after avoiding the various side-ways of Mithyātva (False Belief) is callea Adhyatma daśa (a condition of life suitable for the eleva. of one's Soul). Mental concentration commences after the attainment of the Fourth Stage of Spiritual Development, named A
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