SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LISTENERS (OF JAINA-SHASTRAS)
If a listener possesses some knowledge of grammar, logic and of voluminous
Jaina Shastras, then the listenership is praiseworthy. And even if there be
such a listener but be devoid of Atma-Jnana (self-knowledge) he can not
understand the gist of the sermons. Therefore, the one who has tasted (the blissful
nature of) the self-soul through self-realisation, he is the real listener of the
mystery of Jina-Dharma. Further, the one who possesses extraordinary
intellectual power or the clairvoyance, telepathy knowledges, then he is to be known
as an excellent listener. Such are the special qualities of the listeners. Such
should be the listeners of the Jina-Shatras.
Moreover, those who listen to Shastras believing that listening to
Shastras will be beneficial to them but due to weakness of knowledge do not
understand much, to them Punya-Bandha (bondage of auspicious karmas)
occurs, but the specific purpose can not be achieved. And those who listen to
Shastras either by family-tradition or customarily or incidently or simply
listen but do not retain any thing, so according to their thoughts and feelings,
sometimes Punya-Bandha (auspicious bondage) or sometimes Papa Bandha
(inauspicious bondage) is caused to them. And those who listen to Shastras
with pride or jealousy or whose intention is only of arguing and those who listen to
Shastras simply for being called the great person or for the sake of
fulfilling some greed, etc. or those who listen to Shastras but do not like
it - to such listeners the Papa-Bandha alone is caused. Such are the various
traits of listeners. Similarly, it should be inferred about the persons indulging in
learning, teaching activities, etc..
Thus the characteristics of discoursers and listeners of the Shastras have
been described. Hence, the right Shastra, should be read and listened to by
becoming a right discourser and a right listener.