170
Aptavani-4
Swadhyaya: Paradhyaya
Dadashri: What do you read?
Questioner: Jain swadhyaya (study of the Self), sutras,
and I give lectures etc. I do all that.
Dadashri: The one doing the swadhyaya is really doing
paradhyaya (study of the non-Self). If you did swadhyaya
(study of the Self), just once, then from there on, you would
find a solution to everything. Everything that is taking place in
the world is paravalumban (dependent upon the non-Self)
and this dependency may be correct. With swavalumban
(dependency on the Self) there is liberation, and paravalumban
(dependency on the non-Self) will lead to relentless wandering
life after life.
Ultimately the Ego Will Have to be Dissolved
Human nature considers that adopting a path which is
shubha-ashubha (auspicious-inauspicious) is religion (dharma).
Every religion talks about doing good and avoiding the bad. The
Jain religion relegates such discussions of shubha-ashubha to a
lower level; there is no discussion about it whatsoever. In their
spiritual readings and discussions, they refer to the works and
hear the discourses of elevated individuals such as those who
have gone on to become the highest Gnanis, the absolutely
enlightened beings and superlative men. And from this, arises
one’s intent (bhaav), to become just like these great men. This
is the essence of the Jain religion, but people have instead
entered into shubha-ashubha (doing good and avoiding the
bad)!
Jainism comprises four Anuyogas (paths that lead to the
Self): Kathanuyoga (stories of the great human beings who
have attained the Self), Charananuyoga (the path of surrender
and devotion), Karananuyoga (the path of understanding the
law of cause and effect, the description of the universe) and