________________
DISCOURSE 91
243
are normally incomprehensible and that deal with the knowledge relating to the real form of Dravya, arises in the minds of people, they will go to the places where such discourses are delivered and they will hear those discourses with interest. Are there not in India such lovers of scriptural knowledge as there are in America, Japan, Germany and other countries ? I have met some people of that kind in India. In fact, some foreigners come to India to listen to discourses on ancient Dharmagranthas and to understand them. A foreign scholar has written a research-treatise on the 45 Agamas. How did he write it? First he had a desire to understand them. Then, he must have heard enlightened men speak on them; then he must have heard great scholars explaining them; he must have studied them personally; contemplated upon them and then he must have written his treatise. Do you have the desire to hear the 45 Agamas?
From the Audience : Sometimes, we go to the temple and we hear the recitations relating to the worship of the 45 Agamas.
Maharajashri: Do you sit there with concentration when that worship is going on. I think you merely pay money to the 'hundi' of the temple and you say, “Kindly worship the 45 Agamas on our behalf” and then you return home. The priest reads out the hymns relating to the worship of the Agamas, from a book; and he offers to the Lord, fruits and other things. Is that the way in which you worship the 45 Agamas ?
Do you at least know the names of the 45 Agamas ? Do you have any regard and devotion for and faith in Dharmashastras ? When that is so, how can you desire to hear the Dharmashastras ? You must have love for the Agam granthas that throw light on the path of salvation. If the intelligence has the first quality mentioned, the man desires to hear discourses on the Agamagranthas.
You must treat with politeness and respect those people whose discourses you desire to hear and from whom, you wish to attain scriptural knowledge. If you practise the principle of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
