From Rare Combinations to Path of Liberation

THE PATH OF LIBERATION

Rare Combinations
For living beings, four combinations are rare to obtain : human-birth, listening to scriptures, faith in Dharma and the energy to practise self-control.

Listening of Scriptures
Even after having been born as a human being, it is most difficult to get an opportunity to listen to holy scriptures—listening to which makes one practise austerity, forgiveness and non-violence.

Faith
Even after getting an opportunity to listen to the holy scriptures, it is exteremely difficult to have faith in them because many people despite knowing the right path still go astray.

Exertion
Even after listening to the holy scriptures and believing in them, it is difficult to have enough strength to practise self-control. Many peoply have faith in relition but they are unable to practise it.

Victory over Karmas
Having been born as a human being, believing in religion and following it meticulously, an ascetic should practise self-restraint and annihilate the karmas completely.

Repentence
He who does not endeavour to tread the path of righteousness in this birth, repents at the time of death.

Worship
Knowledge enlightens the soul, austerity purifies it and through self-restraint, one given up the forbidden deeds. These three together beget emancipation according to the declaration of Jains.

Against the Current
One who swims along with the current of the worldly life is entangled in the cycle of birth and death. One who swims against it, gets liberated.

Unworthy Person
That which is most difficult to acquire and which is transient like the flash of lightning, if such human birth is wasted carelessly by a man, he is an unworthy person and not a noble man.

Experience
I have heard and experienced that bondage and liberation lie within one's own self.

Path of Liberation
Lord Jina has said that knowledge, faith, conduct and austerity constitute the path of liberation.