Soul Science Part 02

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 53

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Soul Science : Samayasara by Jain Acarya Kundakunda
(soul) any act of vow is not a true vow, but it is simply equivalent to a vow undertaken by an ignorant child who does not correctly understand the meaning and intention of his actions. In this stanza, it has been termed as Bāla Vrata. The literal meaning of Bala Vrata is 'vow undertaken by a child'. This stanza thus implies that for a vow to be a true vow for the purpose of the spiritual development, staying in the supreme substance (soul) is an essential component. 3. Stanza 152: Without staying in the supreme substance (soul) any act of penance is not a true penance, but it is simply equivalent to an act of penance undertaken by an ignorant child who does not correctly understand the meaning and intention of his actions. In this stanza, it has been termed as Bala Tapa. The literal meaning of Bāla Tapa is 'penance undertaken by an ignorant child'. This stanza thus implies that for an act of penance to be a true penance for the purpose of the spiritual development, staying in the supreme substance (soul) is an essential component.
4. Stanza 153: The converse of stanza 151 and inference drawn from stanza 152 have been highlighted in this stanza. This stanza states that those who do not abide in the supreme substance (soul) do not attain liberation even though they do all possible actions of physical body and mind by following the rules of good conduct, by practicing penance and vows.
5. Stanza 154: After reading stanza 153, a question may arise in a reader's mind. How can a person who follows the rules of good conduct, practices vows and acts of penance can remain out of the supreme substance (soul)? Its answer is provided in stanza 154. This stanza explains that all living beings who do not abide in the supreme substance (soul) are ignorant about the real cause of liberation, and due to