________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Vaişpava Saints of ....
745
affected by the poison of its fangs, but when it bites, the poison kills the creature bitten. Likewise Māyā is in the Lord but does not affect Him, while the same Máyà deludes the whole world 1 Māyā causes all actions and the jiva has to experience the consequences of the actions performed under the influence of Māyā. According to him, the Self is not attached to anything. Pleasure, pain, sinfulness, righteousness, etc., can never affect the Self in any way; but they can affect those who identify themselves with the body, as smoke can blacken only the wall, but not the space enclosed in it.? The Self or Paramātman in His pure form is unaffected by these upādhis. He is never in bondage, He is eternally free.
According to Ramakļšņa the Jīvātman attains liberation when it achieves God-realization. The state of realization of God is full of infinite and inexhaustible pure bliss. The Jiva ultimately becomes one with God by being totally absorbed in Him and so it loses the sense of distinction from Him. Then all becomes one. It is a state of ecstatic joy and unending peace. It is a state of perfect illumination, sweet joy, and profound peace. Ramakrshna says that the Ananda, or the enjoyment of perfect bliss within is one of the signs of God-vision. One who realises God becomes drunk with His love and joy, and therefore, he loses all his pains and sufferings. He is not con. scious of his limited individual existence at all. God
1 Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna, 53. 2 Ibid. 31. 3 Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, 757. 4 Ibid. 758.
For Private And Personal
