Way of Life Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 20

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THE WAY OF LIFE
speaks to jivas in the languages known to them and whose voice is heard by them, by hearing which all the doubts of their minds get dispelled; he who brings peace and felicity to all jivas wherever he places his steps; who is called Eshwar by some; Bramha by some and Shankar by some and who is called by different names by different people, is the Arihant Paramatma Param - Atma = Paramatma (the supreme + soul).
Apart from him, all the other souls are ordinary or mundane. Ours is an ordinary or mundane soul. The worship of the Dharma is the only efficacious worship that can enable us to rise from the level of being an ordinary soul to the level of being the supreme soul. Appa So Paramappa (the soul becomes the supreme soul). If the ordinary soul bows to the supreme soul; if it glorifies the supreme soul and prays to it and if it meditates on the supreme soul; if it traverses the path shown by the supreme soul, then it will become a Paramatma.
Please say whether we should remain ordinary souls or whether we should become Paramatmas or not. You may say that we should become Paramatmas but that we do not have the ability necessary for that attainment. Why? When do we get ability or strength ? Does strength fall from the skies ? No. Strength results only from the devotion for the Paramatma; therefore become immersed in a heartfelt devotion for the Paramatma.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FEATURE
The author of the Grantha has offered an invocation to the Paramatma; but he has not mentioned any name. He has not mentioned either the name of Bhagwan Rishabhdev or of Mahavir Swami. Whatever the name, the Paramatma is essential. There is the need for One who is omniscient and one who has renounced all attachments. He has offered an invocation to the Paramatma who has been completely delivered from ignorance, attachments and hatred. This is one great speciality of the Jain Dharma. If you and I realize the significance of this speciality, even today, “The Jain Shasan or philosophy is victorious”,