Lesson - 20
The Lord, Preceptor, Religion
Ques: Who is your Lord?
Ans: Arahanta.
Ques: Who is called Arahanta?
Ans: The arahantas are those who have established the tirtha (four-fold-order) after destroying the four most destructive karmas- jnanavaraniya (knowledge covering), darshanavaraniya (perception covering), mohaniya (deluding), antaraya (obstructing) have and attained omniscience.
Ques: What are the characteristics of Deva (Arihant)?
Ans: Devas are vitaraga (free from attachment and aversion), which means equanimous towards all. They preach principles in their true form and propagate true religion.
Ques: Are devas (Ariahant) with forms or formless?
Ans: Devas possess forms, because they possess human body. When they are liberated, by destroying all the karmas, they become formless.
Ques: What are the names of the Lord?
Ans: Arahanta, jina, paramatma, paramesvara. prabhu, sarvajna, sarvadarsi, devadhideva, etc.
Ques: Who is our Lord at present?
Ans: At present our Lord is Mahavira, the 24th tirthankara.
Ques: People in the world have faith in various other Gods like Bheru, Bhawani, Ramadeva etc. Are they not Gods?
Ans: They are worldly Gods and not the propagators of religion.
Ques: Whom do you call the preceptor?
Ans: The monk observing the five great vows is called the preceptor.
Ques: What is meant by dharma?
Ans: ‘Atmasuddhisadhanam dharmah’ - It means dharma is the means through which self- purification is attained.
Ques: What are those means?
Ans: Samvara and Nirijara.
Ques: How do you practice them?
Ans: Through renunciation and penance. Not to torture any being, not to be angry, not to tell a lie, not to indulge in corruption, to be friendly and compassionate, to be pure, to behave with politeness- all these are means of self-purification.
- What are the characteristics of God?
- Mention the characters of the preceptor.
- Which is a true religion? What are its various means?
- Who is arahant?
