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DISCOURSE 20
the tears of joy. The sloka he uttered spontaneously in glorification of the Lord was heard by the Acharyadev who was in the Upashray. He was familiar with the voice of Haribhadra. He at once understood that it was Haribhadra who was uttering the song of glorification. The Acharya experienced inexpressible joy. He noticed many good omens.
Haribhadra went to the Upashraya to meet the Acharya. On having a darshan of the Acharya, he saluted him and asked him, "May I come in?" After getting the permission of the Acharya, he went and sat at the feet of the Acharya after saluting him again. The acharya blessed him saying "Dharmlabh' (May you gain dharma) and the Acharya made enquiries about his welfare in a courteous manner. Haribhadra told him the purpose with which he had gone there. The Gurudev understood that Haribhadra had developed love and admiration for the Sadhvi and devotion and veneration for the Paramatma. He said to Haribhadra,
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THE GURUDEV'S LOVING REPLY
"Oh great man! The Jain Dharma has prescribed a methodical way of studying the scriptures and the study has to be carried out, step by step. You can attain a true knowledge of the Jain dharma only by means of a methodical and systematic study because it is very profound, very vast and very lofty. The inner meaning of Jain Dharma, its mysteries and profundities can be understood only when a man studies it as a Sadhu. In order to understand thoroughly the philosophy of Anekantavad and the seven types of Nayas or aspects of logic, one has to reside with a teacher and learn them from him. What do you gain by knowing the meaning of one sloka ? It is a sloka composed in the Jain dialect and terminology. Its meaning is also simple. Since you are a great genius, a man of determination and a man of sense and incisiveness, you can become an outstanding scholar in the scriptures and you can give light to countless jivas who are groping in the darkness of ignorance. This is truly the fruit of the human existence. Human life becomes meaningful only when a man gives light to others".
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