48
Aptavani-2
a muhpati (a cloth that covers the nose and the mouth. In order
to practice ahimsa, some Jain priests cover their nose and mouth
with a cloth to prevent inadvertent inhalation of small insects).
Once the inner kashays (anger, pride, illusion and greed) are
destroyed, all actions are natural and spontaneous. In addition,
after the kashays are gone, one does not need to perform idol
worship. You claim that idols are inanimate (jada), but you
cannot say that. For that matter you and everyone else are
inanimate too, is that not so? You have not realized the Soul
(chetan), you do not know the Soul, so what else is there? Tell
me have you known the Soul? As long as you have not attained
the realization of the formless (amurta, the Self), are you also
not a murti (idol) - with form yourself? This Navkar Mantra too
is a murti. What you are reciting is also a murti and you are a
murti too.”
Worship of an idol is an indirect (paroksha) form of
worship. As long as you are in the relative realm, worship the
idol. Until you attain the realization of the Self, you cannot call
an idol inanimate (jada). No one has the right to call an idol
inanimate. Muslims claim that idols are inanimate, but they too
worship the tombstone of the messenger of the Lord and all
other tombs; are these also not idols? Tombstones are also
idols. Everything you see through the eyes is an idol. Muslims do
not keep ‘idols’ but they keep little portico image of Mecca, is
that not an idol? In this world, you can see only that which has
a form (murta), the formless (amurta) cannot be seen.
‘We’ asked the maharaj, “Where do you see the animate
(chetan) that you are referring to the idol as being inanimate?
Maharaj if my questioning offends you, ‘We’ will stop.”
The maharaj replied, “No, I am not offended. But this is
the principle that has been established for us.”
‘We’ told him, “You can keep your principle, but why do
you preach it to others? If this is your principle, you should keep