Page 135 - Faith Personified

On the foundation of these, she originated the Punya to
become a Tirthankara. Now just imagine – a common
housewife and mother staying amidst worldly pleasures
originates Tirthankara Namakarma. Due to the liking for
sensual pleasures? Or due to the liking for Vitaraga? Or both?
Do not be mistaken. You cannot like both together. If you
like Vitaraga, it implies that you like the Almighty devoid of
such sensual pleasures. And if you truly like Him for this

reason, it means that sensual pleasures and its attachments
seem like poison to you. And thus you like Omniscient Lord
who has overcome this poison. It is a simple principle – Your
liking for Vitaraga Lord implies your dislike towards sensual
pleasures. They seem poisonous and worth abandoning.

Inspite of living amidst worldly pleasures, to what heights can
the devotion and reverence, love and faith for Vitaraga reach?
To what extent can the attachments of sensual pleasures be
reduced? Sulsa was a fine example.

If you claim to like both Vitaraga and vicious sensual pleasures
together then examine yourself. Deep inside, there will be

the thought that devotion of Vitaraga will give me the desired
pleasures and comforts. But this thoughts denotes your liking
for those pleasures and not for Vitaraga.
We were talking about the minute difference between karma

and destiny. Sulsa’s 32 sons were designated as King Shrenik’s
personal confidants due to their own auspicious karmas in
action but it was destiny that this designation was instrumental
in creating a great calamity.

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