Page 42 - Faith Personified

his soul is enveloped with Samvega*. It is this great virtue
‘Samvega’ that we ought to attain, stabilise and enrich in this
precious human birth. Such is the power of this Samvega,
that mortal and divine pleasures seem worthless. Nothing
except the external bliss of salvation occupies one’s mind.

Q. Don’t Samyaktvi souls strive to attain worldly pleasures?

Ans. Yes, they do, but not drown in worldly pleasures. They
live a smooth and contented life till they become capable
enough to walk on the path of renunciation.

They look upon these comforts not as a luxury but just a
necessity. They consider this external happiness to be sorrow
in disguise. Pleasures of this mortal world are actually sorrows,

but mental instability and laziness in performing religious
activities is the greater sorrow.

In our religious verse ‘Jaya Viyaraya’, 13 prayers are offered
to the Arihantas. ‘Ishta-fala Siddhi’ is one of them. It means
fulfilment of your desires. Which desires? Salvation ? No! It’s
still a premature stage for such desires. Here, we desire for

the destruction of any obstructions coming in the way of
mental peace. Mental peace and composure enable effective
execution of religious activities like worshipping God, doing
Pooja, Samayika, etc. When even meeting ends is difficult, is
it possible to engage your mind in religious activities? How
can you engage yourself in such deeds when you have to bear

the brunt of frequent insults and disrespect? Thus, by way of

* Samvega – Fear from sins.

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