The Guru and the Disciple
17
Questioner: That will not do, but this entire discussion is
about the worldly life.
Dadashri: No, whatever is applicable in the worldly life is
applicable here, too. Here, in spiritual matters too, a nimit is needed
first!
If they did away with all the schools and books, people
would not study or learn. With a nimit, your work would progress
but without it, it would not. What qualifies as a nimit? Books are
a nimit, temples are a nimit, derasars (Jain temples) are a nimit,
the Gnani Purush is a nimit. Now if we did not have all these
books and derasars, then what will happen to the upadaan (one’s
spiritual development)? That is why your work will be done only
if there is a nimit and not otherwise.
The twenty-four Tirthankaras have repeatedly said this very
thing. They have said for us to revere and praise the nimit. If
upadaan is lacking and one meets the nimit, then his upadaan
will arise. Nevertheless the reason they are talking about upadaan
is, if in spite of meeting a nimit, if you do not keep your upadaan
awakened and ready, your work will not be done. So be careful.
That is what they are telling you.
What is upadaan? It is to keep the oil or the ghee and the
wick ready; it is to keep everything ready for the lamp, so it may
be lit. People have kept everything ready for infinite lifetimes, but
they have not found anyone to kindle the lamp. The ghee and the
wick are ready but they need someone to kindle it. One has not
found the scriptures of the nimit that will lead to moksha. One
has not met a nimit like the Gnani Purush; nimit who would take
him to moksha. He has not found all such tools (nimit). People
have been wandering around because they have not found such
nimits.
The way people understand nimit is, if the upadaan is there,
then at that time a nimit will be found. But ‘finding a nimit’ does