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

“[Kêsi said to Gautama,] […] ‘We see many beings in this world who are bound by fetters; how have you got rid of your fetters and are set free, O sage?’ [Gautama replied:] ‘Having cut off all fetters, and having destroyed them by the right means, I have got rid of my fetters and am set free, O sage.’ Kêsi said to Gautama: ‘What do you call fetters?’ To these words of Kêsi, Gautama made the following reply: ‘Love, hatred, etc., are heavy fetters, attachment is a dangerous one; having regularly destroyed them, I live up to the rules of conduct.’

[Kêsi said to Gautama,] […] ‘In this dreadfully dark gloom there live many beings; who will bring (inner Heavenly) Light into the whole world of living beings?’ [Gautama replied:] ‘The spotless Sun has risen which illuminates the whole world; He will bring (inner Heavenly) Light into the whole world of living beings.’ 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 [Jina], the luminary, who brings (inner Heavenly) Light into the whole world of living beings.’

[Kêsi said to Gautama,] […] ‘Do you, O sage, know a safe, happy, and quiet place for living beings which suffer from pains of body and mind?’ [Gautama replied:] ‘There is a safe place in view of all, but difficult to approach, where there is no old age nor death, no pain nor disease.’ 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 to approach. Those sages who reach it are free from sorrows, they have put an end to the stream of existence.’”