The Path of Renunciation: King Nami's Journey and the Fleeting Nature of Life: From the Sacred Jain Scripture - Uttaradhyayana, Part 2 of 2

The human existence is a rare opportunity, and to waste it on fleeting pleasures or attachments is to squander the chance for spiritual growth. We now present selections from the sacred Jain scripture Uttaradhyayana, from the book “Sacred Books of the East Volume 45:” Jaina Sutras, Part 2, translated by Hermann Jacobi.

TENTH LECTURE THE LEAF OF THE TREE.

“As the fallow leaf of the tree falls to the ground, when its days are gone, even so the life of men (will come to its close); Gautama, be careful all the while! As a dew-drop dangling on the top of a blade of Kusa-grass lasts but a short time, even so the life of men; Gautama, be careful all the while! As life is so fleet and existence so precarious, wipe off the sins you ever committed; Gautama, etc. A rare chance, in the long course of time, is human birth for a living being; hard are the consequences of actions; Gautama, etc. […]

Thus the soul which suffers for its carelessness, is driven about in the Samsâra (cycle of death and rebirth) by its good and bad Karman; Gautama, etc. Though one be born as a man, it is a rare chance to become an Ârya (a noble or pious person, or an elder brother) for many are the Dasyus (enemies of righteousness) and Mlêkkhas (individuals or groups considered outside the Vedic societal framework); Gautama, etc. Though one be born as an Ârya, it is a rare chance to possess all five organs of sense; for we see many who lack one organ or other; Gautama, etc. Though he may possess all five organs of sense, still it is a rare chance to be instructed in the best Law (spiritual precepts); for people follow heretical teachers; Gautama, etc. Though he may have been instructed in the right Law (spiritual precepts), still it is a rare chance to believe in it; for many people are heretics; Gautama, etc. Though one believe in the Law (spiritual precepts), he will rarely practise it; for people are engrossed by pleasures; Gautama, etc. […]

When your body grows old, and your hair turns white, all your powers decrease. Despondency, the King's evil, cholera, mortal diseases of many kinds befall you; your body wastes and decays; Gautama, etc. Cast aside from you all attachments, as the (leaves of) a lotus let drop off the autumnal water, exempt from every attachment, Gautama, be careful all the while! […]”