Page 182 - Faith Personified

elephant and chariots or family and friends, wealth and
business or workers and servants, can save you from the
clutches of death.

Abhaykumar’s consolation was different from that given by
other people. He explained to them that since you have faith
in the teachings of the Jinas, sorrow does not suit you. Because
according to Jainism—

“All situations are temporary.” Nothing is going to last till
eternity. Hence, as soon as an adverse situation arises, identify
its temporary nature. Tell yourself right from the beginning
that it is not going to last forever. Hence, its separation will

not sadden you. Does the disappearance of the rainbow, the
beautiful evening sky, dewdrops or the waves of the ocean
disappoint you? Why? Because even while admiring their
beauty you are aware of their momentary nature. Thus all
situations are short-lived be it union or separation. Being
well-versed with the principles of Jainism, why does this
separation deject you? If you feel so, it is a blot on your faith

in the preachings of the Jinas.
The second point that Abhaykumar emphasized was – for
the external soul, birth is not an enhancement or an ornament.

Instead it is a deterioration, a stain. This soul is originally
bodiless and formless. Birth creates the bondage of this body
and traps it. Death frees it from it and hence restores its
original nature.

We can prove that death is the soul’s nature in another way,
too. It is not necessary that the one who dies has to take birth

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