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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
642
Atman and Mokṣa
sacrifices and gives to others, whatever penance one does, all that must be dedicated to God. When this will be done the actions will not bear good or bad effects just as seeds which are burnt in fire do not sprout. When all the actions are performed by offering them and their fruits, they do not bind any more. God is present in all the beings equally. Those who know Him to be existent in all, do not exist in their bodies, but in fact they exist in God and God also exists in their hearts, just as a huge banyan tree is existent in its seed and the seed exists in that tree. Thus, they simply appear different outwardly, inwardly they are the same. Thus, those who worship Him by forgetting their egoity and become one with Him rest in Him for ever.1 Going further, God assures that even a person, howsoever sinful and vicious, if he comes to worship God exclusively he will be regarded as a saint. God would gladly give them His immortal peace. It is vain to look for the high descent and to take pride in calling oneself jñāni (ft) and to take pride in possessing health and youth if there is no devotion for God. It is like a town without population. Life without the love for God is vain. It is not the descent and caste and the body that matter. What matters is the sincere feeling of devotion and love for God; if that is there, even beasts like crocodile and elephants reach God.2 Jñānes'vara further denounces the autocracy of the upper classes which forbid
1 Jnanes'vari, IX. 407-414.
2 Ibid. IX 425-442.
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Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
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