________________
124
THE WAY OF LIFE
Dharmashastras. You have to believe that the Dharma expounded by the omniscient Vitarag is authentic and sound. Attach. ments, hatred and infatuation render doctrines unsound and un. reliable. These attachments and hatred cause false and insincere activities.
ATTACHMENTS, HATRED AND IGNORANCE ARE DANGEROUS
Attachment brings about partiality and prejudice. Hatred brings about contempt for others. Even if what others say is True hatred does not allow people to recognize the truth in their expositions. Even if your statement is untrue and faulty, attachment makes it appear to be true and sound. Moha means intoxication or ignorance. Ignorance is the mother of all evils. On account of the ignorance of the soul, the Jiva i.e. man experiences anguish in this mundane life. The words of those who are blinded by attachments and hatred are not to be trusted, because they can utter only faulty and untrue things. Did not Marichi mislead and misguide Prince Kapila ? Prince Kapila asked Marichi, "Do not you have Dharma in your possession ? Why do you not accept me as your disciple? Why do you want to send me to the society of mendicants who follow Bhagwan Rishabdev ?" At that time, on hearing his words, Marichi began to think about the situation; but his thinking was coloured by his attachment. "I am not well. The followers of the Bhagwan do not help me in my sickness. I need a disciple. The prince can become my disciple. I have found a disciple who suits my need”. Under the influence of that attachment for a disciple, he said, "Kapil, just as the Shramans of Rishabhdev have dharma, I too have it." But Marichi at that time was not a Shraman. He had given up his mendicacy. Yet his attachment impelled him to utter a lie.
By uttering falsehood, Marichi fell into spiritual ruin; but he misguided Kapil also. Therefore, the great acharya says that only the utterances of Vitrag Paramatma, the omniscient are trustworthy. A Vitarag, one who has completely conquered attachments and hatred, need not utter lies. He does not have
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
