The evolution of a soul from the lowest depths of misery to the highest summit of bliss is of the greatest benefit to humanity. This feature is the chief source of interest in the lives of Tirthankaras like Mahavira and other great personages revered by the Jains.
The spiritual advancement of a soul is not an easy one. On the other hand it is fraught with the greatest difficulties. There are various obstacles both external and internal in the way. The green earth, the charm of nature, the zest of life and the pleasures and temptations of the world are too engrossing in their attraction to be resisted by ordinary humanity.
Only a few rare souls, by their profound and soul-stirring experiences, become enlightened and commence on their onward march towards spiritual progress.
If the spiritual awakening is strong enough, the soul’s ultimate progress towards the goal of salvation is assured, in spite of temporary setbacks, impediments and obstacles, which bring down, the soul very low at times in the spiritual scale. We have instances of even great ascetics, who sustain a great fall from their spiritual heights, by succumbing to the surging passions which overwhelm them at times.
But some noble souls came to their rescue at such junctures and arrest this downward march and enable them to attain their goal of liberation.
Fighting spirit
In fact the fighting spirit is essential for a soul in order to attain the supreme goal of everlasting happiness. The greatest conquest is the conquest of one’s own self, the subduing of passion, the evil in oneself.
The passions are mighty forces, and it demands constant vigilance, rare skill and undaunted and never-failing courage to quell the passions that rage incessantly in the human breast. Hence it is wrong to say that the spiritualist lives in a world of dreams, doing nothing and idling away his time.
On the other hand, it should be realized that the spiritualist’s task is the most strenuous. He has to fight against the established sway of mighty armies, ill-equipped and unfitted as he is for the mighty struggle. He can find his way only slowly, and assert his strength by slow repeated and patient effort over the mighty forces.
How cautiously then should such a fragile being proceed in his attempt to free himself from the mighty forces that have held sway over him for millions of years? Such a well-nigh impossible task is enough to cow down the mightiest heart. Yet there have been souls of such tough fiber, who now and then braved successfully the storms that rage eternally in the world outside as well as within the human breast.
Lord Mahavira is one of such rare souls who have been the beacon light to floundering humanity. Lord Vardhamana has been fittingly called Mahavira, the great warrior. The spiritual awakening dawned on this great soul, when he was a lion in one of his previous births, ferociously tearing a deer to pieces for food. It was then that a great saint appeared before the lion and preached the truth. From that moment commenced the spiritual career of this great soul.
Excerpted from www.herenow4u.net. The 2614th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira falls on April 2.
