From the Sacred Jainism Scripture “Uttaradhyayana,” Lecture 23 – Kêsi and Gautama, Part 2 of 2

“[…] ‘Well, Gautama, you possess wisdom, you have destroyed my doubt; but I have another doubt which you must explain to me, Gautama. Is there a shelter, a refuge, a firm ground for the beings carried away by the great flood of water? Do you know the island, O Gautama?’ [asked Kêsi.] ‘There is a large, great island in the midst of water, which is not inundated by the great flood of water.’ [replied Gautama.] Kêsi said to Gautama, ‘What do you call this island?’ To these words of Kêsi Gautama made the following reply: ‘The flood is old age and death, which carry away living beings; Law is the island, the firm ground, the refuge, the most excellent shelter.’ […]

‘Well, Gautama, you possess wisdom, you have destroyed my doubt; but I have another doubt which you must explain to me, Gautama. In this dreadfully dark gloom there live many beings; who will bring light into the whole world of living beings?’ [asked Kêsi.] ‘The spotless Sun has risen which illuminates the whole world; He will bring light into the whole world of living beings.’ [replied Gautama.] Kêsi said to Gautama, ‘What do you call this Sun?’ To these words of Kêsi Gautama made the following reply: ‘Risen has he who put an end to the Circle of Births, the omniscient Gina, the luminary, who brings light into the whole world of living beings.’

‘Well, Gautama, you possess wisdom, you have destroyed my doubt; but I have another doubt which you must explain to me, Gautama. Do you, O sage, know a safe, happy, and quiet place for living beings which suffer from pains of body and mind?’ [asked Kêsi.] ‘There is a safe place in view of all, but difficult of approach, where there is no old age nor death, no pain nor disease.’ [replied Gautama.] Kêsi said to Gautama, ‘What is this place called?’ To these words of Kêsi Gautama made the following reply: ‘It is what is called Nirvâna, or freedom from pain, or perfection, which is in view of all; it is the safe, happy, and quiet place which the great Sages reach. That is the eternal place, in view of all, but difficult of approach. Those Sages who reach it are free from sorrows; they have put an end to the stream of existence.’ […]”