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Ch. 2: The Sraman Sangh - Brotherhood
Mahavir's every word was enlightening. “We wrongly believe that someone else controls our destiny and makes us happy or unhappy. No one else but us, not even any imaginary supreme power, is responsible for our destiny We weave our own misfortune
Jain Terminology and become entangled in it;
Bhagwan Same as 'My Lord'
Chaturvidh Four-fold and remain entrapped in this Gurudev Honorific term for Guru
Sadhak Spiritual traveler painful cycle of death and
Sadhana Spiritual exercise rebirth. We alone have the Sadhu Monk
Sadhvi Nun power to extricate our self from
Shravak Lay man miseries, not by begging for
Shravika Lay woman
Samsara Cycle of birth and death mercy, but through our own Sangh Brotherhood; Congregation
Tirthankar Enlightened spiritual guide determined efforts. Becoming aware of such power and freedom is self-realization. When we begin to experience this freedom, we start understanding the difference between the Self (soul) and its entrapments. Once we know that ‘Me' is not my physical body but it is the soul trapped within this body, we truly begin our journey on the path to freedom. Such freedom is Bliss!"
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Mahavir continued, "Misguided by the notion that a physical body is defined by 'Me', we unwittingly carry the burden of this body and every thing else we possess. We cannot experience freedom as long as we carry this burden. True freedom is to be free from this burden. It means being free from our sense of oneness of soul with our possessions.
We can be free only through self-discipline, which enables us to control and eliminate our ugly passions (kashaya) such as anger, ego, deceit, lust, and greed. A life without these passions is a life free of sins
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