Way of Life Part 2

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

Page 23

DISCOURSE 25
11
your village lead a righteous life, follow Dharma and discard sinful actions. What an astounding kind of punya arises in the lives of the Tirthankars! It is on account of that merit that they can give light and spiritual guidance to millions of people and can inspire millions of people to follow the path of righeousness.
THE EFFECT OF THE SPIRIT OF DETACHMENT FOLLOWS THE JIVA ALONG WITH MERIT
From the Audience: The soul attains the heavenly state of existence by means of Sadhudharma. Non-refrainment is the characteristic feature of heavenly life. The Sadhus who lead a life of total refrainment have to lead a life of non-refrainment in heaven. Is this not a loss ?
Maharajashri : Whether one is a Sadhu or a grihastha, if he has been bound by Aayushyakarma (the Karma that bestows a span of life) he has to enter the heavenly world and live there and he has to enjoy the effect of the merits he has acquired but even in the heavenly world, the heavenly beings that are spiritually aware and cautious do not get immersed passionately in the delights that they enjoy. They do not have a deep attachment for those pleasures, so they do not commit sins of a deeper kind by those enjoyments, nor do they commit a large number of sins by those enjoyments. The quality of detachment and renunciation found in the life of a Sadhu accompanies him to the heavenly world and that quality of renunciation or detachment awakens in the heavenly world, in his soul. Therefore he will not be interested in physical enjoyments; he will be detached.
THE PILGRIMAGE TOWARDS SALVATION CONTINUES EVEN IN THE HEAVENLY WORLD
Non-refrainment characterises the heavenly life. That means the gods and goddesses in heaven cannot undertake any vows, pledges or rules relating to austerity and conduct and they cannot also live according to them, but this is one inevitable situation. Pleasures can be enjoyed only in the life that is