Jain Journal 1995 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Catalog link: https://jainqq.org/explore/520120/1

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VOL. XXX ISSN 0021-4043 A QUARTERLY JAINOLOGY No. 2 OCTOBER ON Journal 1995 jaina bhavana // JAIN BHAWAN PUBLICATION

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Peace Through Non-violence Pujya Shree Chitrabhanuji Contents Ascetic Mother Visuddhamati (Philosopher - Mathematician) Dr (Mrs) Padmavathamma Mahatma Gandhi and Kavi Rajacandra on Philosophical Discourse Brahmacari Sri Govardhanadasa The Human Person from Jaina and Buddhist Perspectives Dr Vincent Sekhar, S.J. News on Jainism Around the World 29 32 42 55 69

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JAIN JOURNAL Vol-XXX No. 2 October 1995 PEACE THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE PUJYA SHREE CHITRABHANUJI Preamble Believe it or not, mankind faces severe crisis in almost every corner of the world, because of violence in so many places and in so many ways. Peace and harmony are in danger. Life is plagu inhumane torture, with senseless death, and with mutilated killings. In this time of turmoil and crises, the answer is ahimsa, non-violence. As a photograph has a two-way process: a negative and a positive, non-violence is also expressed in two aspects: to do and not to do, commission and omission. The first aspect is karuna: a commitment to loving compassion, a feeling of equality with all life. And the second is ahimsa : not to harm, not to kill. There is no room for violence (himsa) when we are filled with love. Love is understanding. Basis of Violence Violence starts with oneself. Being harmful, we first harm ourselves because the negative vibrations of hate, anger and resentment poison our sensitivities and our well-being. In this state, negative vibrations are being collected and stored in the brain. From the brain, these negative vibrations go into the mind. Once the mind is permeated with these negativities, the mind is not capable to mind its business. Without discerning senses, these vibrations automatically enter our being. Here, even our consciousness is also tainted with violent, poisoning vibrations. So, the person is now possessed with it, and a possessed person is not able to listen to even his/her own voice. This process of movement from the brain to consciousness shows how we are conditioned and colored with negative habits and harm ourselves with violence. The person who is ready to change the habit of the mind, the tendency of the mind, has to feel ahimsa, non-violence.

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30 JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 These conditions can persist and when unchecked, a lifetime can pass. After many years of unchecked, non-vigilant lives, one becomes A-G-E-D with Anger, Greed, Ego, Deceit. These are also forms of violence. We have choices, and the consequences of nonattentive choices fossilize us and make us incapable of development. To make the right choice requires awareness of ahimsa. Negatives in comparisons Without knowing the process of vigilance, we will, in ignorance, compare everything and everyone; and in so doing we do not attend to the deeper meaning of life. For many, comparison is natural, because the mind is trained to compare, but if we stop to think and probe deeper, truth may dawn upon us that each is different and unique. Even in twins, each is unique. Why do religious groups fight? Because they also compare. By comparing, they concentrate on superficiality and not on the essence of the religion. The learning from a teacher can be true in its time but it also can be a learning opportunity at other times, if each generation interprets the words in the context of the time, space and culture that is present for them. Karuna, loving compassion, inspires us to transcend the comparative and competitive attitude of the mind. Those who impose their beliefs on others, expecting others to accept their truth, are nurturing a subtle seed of violence which in time will grow into a tree of even more small seeds and then more trees as a vicious cycle of violence. And as long as one is otheroriented, one has given his remote control to someone else. When walls of other-ness are dropped, we see the sacred beauty of life in ourselves and we see that sacred beauty in others. We do not see that person as a man or woman or a person from a certain sect or religion. All these obstacles are removed. Unless we see beyond barriers, there won't be peace in us or in the world. We may talk about peace but inside we go on creating separation. Some say, "My religion is best; it is the only true religion. And, if you don't start to practise my religion. you will go to hell." Such dogmatism and bigotry is also a form of iolence. When we practise ahimsa, we try to understand what others are saying, what they are conveying, what they are feeling. We listen beyond the words. We may not agree but we respect their right to say. Ahimsa in Introspection Ahimsa tends to be understood only as "Don't do" this or that to others, animals and living beings. This is one meaning but it is

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CHITRABHANIJI: PEACE THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE secondary. The first meaning is "Don't hurt yourself' with jealousy, hate and resentment. Ahimsa, is a subtle thing. It cannot be grasped unless we go deep into ourselves, and to achieve this, we meditate. There, we discover the sacred beauty of life. Until we have that experience, we may use the word ahimsa, but it will only be lip service. To practise ahimsa, one has to remove the veil of ignorance about oneself. One has to experience life within. That deep experience of life does not come from the outside; it dawns inside. And we are reminded that denial of Self (atma) is an invisible form of violence. 31 When ahimsa is practised in a vision of inner perspective, we perceive the relevancy of all life in meaningful inter-relationships among all living beings, leading to understanding and ahimsa. Ahimsa is another name for healthy human feelings. Just as in the sunlight, darkness cannot remain, so also anger, greed, ego and deceit cannot linger in healthy human feeling. Once we have the experience of this vision, we are committed to practise ahimsa in trinity of mind, word and action. In this new vigilance, we are awake and every night before we rest, we review our day and ask, "Did I harm myself? Did I in judging put down anyone? Have I contributed to human divisions: cultural, racial, intellectual, religious, physical, or others? Did I place one person above another? Did I allow my reticence to contribute to violence ?" Beauty of Ahimsa Once we start practising ahimsa, our life becomes an inspiration. Wherever we go, our eyes beam with compassion, our feelings vibrate with care, our words flow with love, and our actions 'speak' Reverence for Life. People will be changed, not by our words but by what they see, hear and feel. When we experience the sacred beauty of life, we experience peace. We inspire peace. Then there will be peace. There will be peace.

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ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI (Philosopher - Mathematician) DR (MRS) PADMAVATHAMMA 1. Introduction TIN When asked to name an ancient Indian lady mathematician, the first name that appeals to the mind of a common man is Lilavati. She is the daughter of the famous Indian mathematician Bhaskaracarya. He studied the horoscope of his daughter and after making astrological calculations precisely determined the auspicious time for her wedding at a particular day and hour. Unfortunately, a pearl from the headdress of Lilavati fell into the water-hour-glass while she was anxiously waiting for the auspicious time to approach. The auspicious time had passed, Lilavati could not marry according to one version. But according to another version she was married only to become a widow SE DO 3100 bios 1. Karl B. Boyer, A History of Mathematics, John-Wiley and Sons, New York, 1968. 2. B. Sitaram Shastri, Lilavathi Grantha Matthu Srinivasa Ramanujan, Prasaranga, Mysore, 1975.

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PADMAVATHAMMA : ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI very soon. Bhaskaracarya made an earnest endeavour to bring down her distress by teaching her the various aspects of Mathematics. The outcome of this effort is the famous Lilavati Grantha which is a part of Siddhanta Siromani. One may be surprised to know that in this 20th century also there is a Jaina nun-mathematician who is very much comparable to Lilavati. But this is indeed true. She is ascetic mother Visuddhamati. The object of this article is to give a brief biographical sketch of her life and works.3 The couple Sri Lachamanlal Singhai and Smt Mathurabai got a daughter as fifth issue on 12th April 1929. She was born in a small village Rithi of Jabalpur District in Madhya Pradesh. At the time of her birth neither the people of her house nor others could imagine that this innocent child would become a great saint and mathematician. The little girl who obtained deep knowledge of Agamas by means of hard meditation is Sumitrabai. She was very much influenced by the close contact and guidance of the famous saint, Sri Ganesh Prasad Varni. Since she was from a house of religious tradition and since her mother was very simple and kind-hearted, naturally from the childhood itself she was extremely well-mannered and was liked by all. Along with home-education she got some restricted school education also. The best culture which she inherited from her father was the most important wealth. During the school days of Sumitrabai there was no strange or extraordinary instance. Before she had completed 15 years she went as a bride of an ordinary family in a nearby village Bakla and she started her family life. After this, unfortunately she was the victim of many misfortunes. Within a short interval she lost her parents. Besides this, within one and a half years of her wedded life she became a widow. This was a terrible blow and was a real test for the courage and confidence of this girl. As per her desire, her brothers decided to educate her. Without wasting any time they started preparing her for primary education. 2 A new mode of life During the times of calamity, if a man does not lose his confidence and courage, his strength and will-power is increased and becomes his part and parcel. Boldness is the only solution for any calamity. There is a Sanskrit saying dhirastaranti vipadam na tu dinacittah. During these days Sumitrabai adopted these principles. 3. This article is based on the following; Niraj Jain, Raksa Bandhana, Manisha Trust, Shanti Sadan, 1990.

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34 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 This young and delicate girl bore the curse of widow-hood boldly thinking that it is due to her own sin committed in the past life (purvarjita karma). Through her continuous efforts she passed her primary examination and secured high marks. Completing three years of middle school examinations in only two years and then passing in the normal training, she became eligible for the post of a teacher. After obtaining one year of education in Bombay she was appointed as a teacher in the same Jain Mahilashram (wherein she started her education) at Sagar. It can be said that 12 years of service as head-mistress in Digambara Jain Mahilashram at Sagar was the building period of Sumitrabai's personality. By making a special study of the Hindi language and grammar she got the two titles "Sahitya Ratna" and "Vidyalankara". The great scholar, winner of President-Award, Pannalal Sahityacarya taught her the doctrines of Jain Agamas, with love and affection. The teacher was a strict task master. At any cost every day early morning at 5.00 he would step into the doors of Mahilashram as definite as the rising of the sun. The student never used to sleep before completing the lessons. As per students rules and regulations, when during night electrical power used to be switched off, she used to collect the ghee that was served to her during meals and use it to light the midnight lamp to complete her lessons. She never allowed any delay in her studies. As a result of the worship of knowledge the life of Sumitrabai took a different turn. Most of her time was spent in religious practices and propogating the messages of Jainism. For the purpose of religious preaching she used to travel to Bihar, Bengal and Assam. It was by her efforts only that Sri Parsvanatha Jaina Temple was constructed in the Mahilashram. By the friendly and respectful attitude of her brothers and sisters-in-law she never felt the common troubles or sorrows of her life. 3. Sprouting of Asceticism In shaping Sumitra's life properly, the direct contact of Sri Ganesh Prasad Varni played an important role. The influence of father like Varni was so much that the colour of her asceticism naturally started spreading on her mind. The scene of Sallekhana of Varniji in 1961 deepened this colour very much. After Varniji there was no example of house leaving in Bundelkhanda. In 1962, Acarya Dharmsagar conducted his caturmasa

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PADMAVATHAMMA: ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI (four months stay during rainy season). The excellent character and conduct of the Acarya attracted this sacred heart which was very much desirous of attaining salvation. It is due to the hotness of Dharma and coldness of goodmind, the seed of asceticism which had rooted in this heart for many years began to sprout in the same year. One day at an auspicious time this teacher of Mahilashram, after sacrificing all the awards decided to become an "Aryika". As a beginning of this she celebrated "Saptama Pratima Vratam" from the Acarya. 35 4. Sahu Saranam Pavvajjami On 14th August 1964 at the famous Jain pilgrimage Papora the second Pattacarya Sivasagara inducted Aryika initiation (diksa) to Sumitrabai. Thereby she entered his sangha (group). The huge congregation of people who had assembled at that time greeted her and called her Visuddhamati Mataji. According to many people, this was the first "Diksa" in Bundelkhanda after a long time. This was said to be a great event and by this all its surrounding places were showered with Dharma. A fair was held in Papora for four months. Hundreds of men and women celebrated various types of Vratas depending on their capabilities. At that time the sangha of Acarya Sivasagara was very small consisting of only four Munirajas and five Aryikas. This sangha was said to be an ideal Model of the Munisanghas all over the country. The members of the sangha always used to carry on original idol when they were on tour. Using this idol they used to perform the various religious worships in the sangha. In local places there used to be no kind of hindrance to them. While travelling no palanquin or vehicle was used by them and they always travelled on foot as per ethical rules. The immoral practice of collecting money in the name of pilgrimage or temple construction was never there in the sangha. There was also no compulsion for the publication of Granthas. The use of Doli, Wheelchair etc. was prohibitied for any Pinchidhari Muni or Aryika. From sunset to sunrise everbody maintained silence. Each one had a lot of devotion and respect towards the Acarya. Although Acarya Sivasagara was very strict at the same time he was very kind. 5. Ordeal time for stead-fastness and study of Sastras After initiation Mother Visuddhamati had to face many difficulties testing her courage. From the first day itself there was obstruction regarding her meals (after one takes diksa there will be a lot of restrictions while taking food). For example, if an insect falls in the lunch plate or a hair is seen in the food they have to stop taking the

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36 JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 meal. This is also called "Antaraya" (obstruction). Inspite of the many precautions taken by Sravakas (followers of Jainism) nearly for a year there were enough obstructions while taking food. She was not getting even one meal per week without Antaraya. It is due to this she became very weak and was even anameic. This had not affected Mother's willpower. But the Acarya became worried at her condition. Nobody had heard of the Acarya discussing any Mantra of Tantra. But as a treatment for this trouble, he directed the Mother Aryika to hymn one line of Santimantra everybody. But the mother humbly, but at the same time firmly, refused to do this. This was the first and last order of her teacher which she denied to obey. The Ascetic Mother's reply was straightforward: "Is it worth repeating this word for a piece of bread?" Acarya always used to admire her firmness. This problem subsided automatically in course of time. As per the rules of the sangha, immediately after diksa, the mother's regular study of sastras started. Srutasagara ascetic taught her Jaina Karma-theory while Ajitasagara ascetic taught her Sanskrit and grammar. Regarding the study of Jaina mathematics and the theory of the Satkhandagama, Brahmacari Ratanchand Mukhtyar guided her. By hard work the Mother became a good scholar in these fields. 6. The beginning of literary endeavours Immediately after she became thorough with the Jain Agamas and Karma-theory, she started literary works and thus did service to Lord Jina. In this direction she achieved success and one began to expect many more fruitful works from her in future also. After writing short articles for the common people, she successfully completed the commentary work in Hindi on the famous Jaina Cosmological work the Trilokasara of Acarya Nemicandra Siddhanta (c. 11th century A.D). The Mother gave simple explanation for many of the difficult aspects in the work. Her talent was very well-exhibited here. After this she translated the well-known Sanskrit work Siddhantasara Dipika of Bhattaraka Sakalakirti Acarya into Hindi. This work consisting of nearly four thousand verses was made available to the public for svadhyaya (self-study). After completing these two works, she took up the difficult task of translating into Hindi the well-known Prakrit work the Tiloyapannatti of Yativrsabhacarya (c. 4th-5th centuries A.D). This work was previously translated into Hindi by Pandit Balchandra Shastri. This was edited by H.L. Jain and A.N. Upadhye and was published by Jivaraja Granthamala, Sholapur, in two volumes (1943, 1951). These books are now out of print. This is one of the most ancient Jaina texts

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PADMAVATHAMMA: ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI on cosmology, cosmogony and cosmography. Both the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasara have been subject to intense research by scholars like B.B. Datta, R.C. Gupta5, L.C. Jain and T.A. Sarasvati Amma.7 37 7. Motivation After the release of the Hindi commentary of the Trilokasara in 1974, the Tiloyapannatti was taken up for study under the guidance of Sri Srutasagara and Sri Ajitasagara. But after stanza 150, due to doubts at many places (for which no explanations were available at that time), study became uninteresting. But in the same year Pandit Ratanchand Mukhtyar came to the Mother and clarified all the doubts which she noted down carefully in a file. Mataji had gone to Udaipur for the inauguration of Sri Mahavira Jain Temple in the year 1981. When she was about to leave Udaipur, unfortunately she fell down from the steps resulting in the fracture of both legs. One day she happened to turn over the pages of the old file of the Tiloyapannatti. After seeing the stanzas she thought to herself "Today my legs are broken, likewise one day I may die and this file may be closed for ever". This thought made her decide to take up the work of the Tiloyapannatti. After resuming the work she noticed some mistakes and incompleteness in some of the verses of the already published works. 4. B.B. Dutta Mathematics of Nemichandra, Jaina Antiquary I, no, ii, 1935, pp. 25-44. 5. (a) R.C. Gupta, Indra's and other Octogonal derivations of the Jaina Value = 10, I.J.H.S, 21(2), 1986, pp.131-139. (b) Circumference of the Jambudvipa in Jaina Cosmography, I.J.H.S, Vol. 10, No. 10, 1975, pp. 38-46. 6. (a) L.C. Jain, Tiloyapannatti ka Ganita, Sholapur, 1958, pp. 1-109. (b) Divergent Sequences Locating Transfinite Sets in Trilokasara, I.J.H.S, Vol. 12, No.1, May, 1977, pp. 57-75. (c) On Spiro-elliptic Motion of the Sun implicit in the Tiloyapannatti, I.J.H.S,Vol. 13, No. 1, 1978, pp.42-49. (d) Kinematics of the Sun and the Moon in Tiloyapannatti, Tulsi Prajna, J.V.B, Ladnun, Feb-March, 1995, pp. 60-67. (e) The Kinematic Motion of Astral Real and Counter Bodies in Trilokasara, Calcutta, I.J.H.S, Vol.II, No.1, 1976, pp.58-74. 7. (a) T.A, Sarasvati Amma The Mathematics of the first four Mahadhikaras of the Trilokaprajnapti, Jour, Gang. Res. Inst. 18, 1961-62, pp.27-51. (b) The Development of Mathematical Series in India after Bhaskara II, Bulletin of the National Institute of Sciences in India, 21, 1963, pp. 320343.

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38 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 These difficulties further strengthened the Mother's determination. As a first step she learnt Kannada. Next she decided to take the verses from ancient Kannada copies only and then modify them according to the correct meanings. After carefully examining the verses from an ancient copy available from Bhattaraka Charukeerthi's Bhandara (Library) at Moodabidri, she could correct them. Since this copy was imperfect, research based on it was also incomplete. Then she had the blessings of Sri Jainmath Sravanabelagola's Bhattaraka Charukeerthi. In his Library a Kannada copy written in the year 1266 was available. Swamiji sent one complete copy to the Mother after transliterating it from Kannada script to Devanagari script by Pandit Devkumar Shastri. With the help of this copy she could place hundreds of deleted verses in their original position. o edit and translate this work of the Tiloyapannatti, the Mother worked continuously for five years. The place of this work was Shri Parsvanatha Digambara Jain Temple at Udaipur. According to scholars, this work of the Mother is an excellent achievement in Jaina Agamas and is also a historic service to the community. This text consisting of nearly 8,000 verses has now been published in three volumes.8 Mother's work on the Tiloyapannatti was greatly welcomed by one and all in India and abroad. In fact, her mathematical solutions and expositions have been studied and appreciated in the research works of Dr. R.C. Gupta, UNESCO Representative for the History of Science in India and by the Japanese team of Professor Takao Hayashi, working in the History of Mathematics and also by Professors L.C. Jain, A.N. Singh and B.B. Datta. Appendix Following are some of the specialities of the Mother's recent publications. 1. Clear explanation is given wherever necessary. 2. In relation to mathematical theorems difficult points are described in complete detail so that this work which was considered to be difficult not only for common people but also for scholars could be read by one and all. 3. An attempt has been made to make crystal clear some of the material through figures and tables. There are totally 53 figures -50 in the first, 2 in the second and 1 in the third volume. 8. The first and the third volumes were released in Bhinder in July 1984 and April 1988 respectively. The second volume was released in April 1986 in Salumber.

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PADMAVATHAMMA: ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI As a bird's eye view of the mathematical contents of the Tiloyapannatti, we find Geometry, Arithmetic and Algebra. Geometry is used to find the surface area of circular forms of the Jambudvipa. After deforming topologically figures into cubes, their volumes are found out. In the calculation of numbers 0 is used. For example, in verse number 312, the time named Acalatma is exhibited through a symbol. Its value is (84)31 x (10)90 Pramana Varsa. We also find many rules to obtain the sum of arithmetic as well as geometric progressions. Interestingly the sums of many new series have been derived. (1) For the sum of 7 series the following rule is given. N S = -[(N + 7) D 2 - (7 +1)D + 2A] = N 12A 2 39 [2A + (N-1) DJ where A,D,N are respectively the first term, common difference and the number of terms. Volume 1, chapter 2, verse no. 70 caya-hada-mitthadhiya-padamekkadhiya-ittha-gunida caya-hinam/ dugunida-vadanena judam, pada-dala-gunidammi hodi samkalidam//70// Translation: From the number of terms increased by any chosen number and multiplied by the common difference is to be subtracted the product of the chosen number increased by one and the common difference. To the remainder is added twice the first term and is then multiplied by half of the number of terms. This gives rise to the sum (of the chosen number of series). In the example, 7 is the chosen number. (2) The sum S,, of first n terms of a geometric progression is given by the formula: Sal(r.r....upto n terms) - 1] + (r - 1) where r is the common ratio and a is the first term. Equivalently, Sa(r" - 1)/(r- 1) Volume 1, chapter 3, verse no. 79 gaccha same gunayare, paropparam guniya-ruva-parihine/ ekkona-guna-vihatte, gunide vayanena guna-ganidam//79//

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40 Translation: The common ratio is multiplied by itself as many times as the number of terms. The resulting product is diminished by one and is then divided by the number equal to one less than the common ratio. The quotient multiplied by the first term gives rise to the sum (of the geometric progression upto n terms). (3) To determine the circumference from the diameter, the value of r is taken to be 10 and the formula is p Circumference (diameter) x 10 Area of the circle = Circumference x (diameter)/4 Volume 2, chapter 1, verse no. 9 vasakadi dasa-gunida, karani parihi ca mandale khette/ vikkhambha-caubbhaga-ppahada sa hodi khettaphalam//91// JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 = Translation: The square of the diameter is multiplied by ten. The square root of the resulting product becomes the circumference of the circle. This circumference multiplied by one-fourth of the diameter gives rise to its area. The Mother is also the author of the following articles/books in Hindi. 1. Srutanikunja ke kimcit prasun 2. Guru Gaurava 3. Sravaka Sopana aur Baraha Bhavana 4. Dharmapravesika Prasnottaramala 5. Dharmodyota Prasnottaramala 6. Anand ki Paddati-Ahimsa 7. Nirmalyagrahana papa hai Collected Works 1. Sivasagara smarika 2. Atmaprasuna 3. Vastuvijnana Paricaya Further she has edited the following books. 1. Samadhidipaka 2. Sramanacarya 3. Dipavali Pujanavidhi 4. Sravaka Sumanasancaya

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MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA ON PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE BRAHMACARI SRI GOVARDHANADASA While Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa, he came into contact with the Christian Missionaries and had religious and philosophical discussions with them. As a result he had to face a mental storm which arose in his mind at that time. He at once wrote to Kavi Rajchandra and sought his help to clear the doudtful points which were troubling his mind. He put no less than 26 questions to the Kavi which were duly answered. Since they have a historical importance and meaning, because they come from two great geniuses, whom India gave to this world in this century, we reproduce a few of them for the benefit of our readers : 1. SOUL AND ITS FUNCTION Q-"What is soul and what are its functions? Do the karmas bound it? A.-1. Just as the pot. table etc. are material substances. similarly a soul is a conscious substance. But pots, tables etc. all material substances are transient and impermanent. They cannot remain static in thier nature through out the ages : past, present and future. While, on the other hand, soul retains all its characteristics, because it is permanent and eternal, Eternal is that substance which is not created by the processes of integration and disintegration. There is nothing to show that soul has been created by any such processes. We may make thousand sorts of combinations and permutations of material objects, but it is impossible to create consciousness. It is a thing of common experience that if a particular characteristic is wanting in a substance, it cannot be created in it by undergoing innumerable processes of combination and permutation. Thus material objects, like pots, tables etc, which are devoid of consciousness, can never be made to yield it in whatever way they are changed or processed. All these things will result in producing objects like earth, water, air, and space etc The particular characteristic of soul is consciousness. Where it is not found, or which is deviod of it, that, of course, is a material substance. Animate and inanimate

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GOVARDHANADASA : MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA 43 these two are eternal entities. Besides the above, there are other methods also for the eternity and immortality of soul. If you just ponder deep, you yourself can well realise the permanence of soul. There is no harm or objection, rather it carries you to truth, to accept the fact that the feelings of pleasure & pain, the desire of getting free from them, thoughts and inspiration etc. are all experiences due to the existence of soul and that soul is primarily a conscious entity. Since such conscious feeling, willing and knowing are always present in soul, it is eternal. For a clear understanding of such philosophical lestions, it is advisible for you to first read the 'Sad-darsana samuccaya' which is being sent to you. 2. The soul in its pure cconscious state, i. e. in the state of its self realisation, is the creator of its own inherent characteristics of knowledge, perception and samadhi i. e. spiritual equanimity. But in the state of its ignorance the soul becomes a creator of emotions like anger, conceit, deceit, greed etc. which are all foreign to it. Not only this much, under the influence of these emotions, soul through its instrumentality also becomes a creator of things like pot, and table etc. To put it more expressively, though soul is not the creator of the substratums of earth from which pots etc. are prepared, it becomes a creator of processes which give new modifications to it. This latter state and functioning of soul is called Karma' i. e. action in Jainism, and 'Bhranti i.e. illusion in the Vedanta. Other systems of Philosophy also refer to this state of soul by similar sort of terms. But solemn and severe thinking reveals the truth that in reality the soul is neither a creator of pot etc., nor of the emotions of anger, conecit etc. In fact, it is a creator of its own conscious characteristics of feelings, willing and knowing. 3. The Karmas (actions) which are done in ignorance of one's own self, though in the beginning are merely seeds, yet at the time of maturity they turn into trees laden with heavy fruits. It is thus self-evident that the soul itself has to bear the fruits of its actions. Just as by giving a touch to fire you first feel its heat and then pain follows, similar is the state of the mundane soul. It also by coming in contact with earthly objects by its sensuous organs, first gives rise to emotions of greed, anger and deceit etc. and then as its fruits has to suffer the pangs of birth, death and old age. Please ponder well over these problems with a detached mind and if you have any doubts please rewrite to me. It is the detached mind, which gives strength for abstinence and control and ultimately leads the soul to Nirvana.

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44 JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 2. THE NATURE OF GOD AND CREATION OF UNIVERSE. 9.-What is god? Is He the creator of the universe? A.-1. Just see you and we, are all mundane beings bound with Karmas, i. e. our souls are in bondage of foreign matter and foreign impulses. The natural state of self with its intrinsic glory free from all karmas, aloof from all impurities and bondages is godhood. God is endowed with the fullness of peace, bliss and knowledge. This godhood is the inherent nature of self, but it is due to ignorance born of the bondage of karmas one is unable to have a vision thereof. However when one realises the truth that self is altogether aloof from body and its limitations the dire fruits of actions, and this self is introspected by mind, then by and by one begins to realise its inner glory of omniscience etc. If you just make a minute survey of the value of all things around you, you will find that there is nothing to excel in the glory of your self. Thus we are led to conclude that 'God' is a synonym of self. For this reason I have a firm conviction that God is self and self is God: God has no abobe outside the self. 2. God is not the creator of the universe. All the elements of nature such as atom, space etc. are eternal and uncreated. They have got their own substratum. They cannot be created from substances other than themselves. Perchance if one says that God has created them, this also does not look sound, because if God is a conscious being or consciousness is taken to be His characteristic, then how can atoms, and space etc. be conceived to have been born from Him? It is quite impossible for the insentient to come out of the sentient. If we regard God also to be insentient, then it will become deviod of all its glory of peace, bliss and knowledge. Just as it is impossible for material things to come out of God, similarly the conscious beings called jivas' cannot be born out of Him. If God is taken to be sentientcum-insentient, then we will have to content ourselves with universe by calling it to be God, because universe consists both of sentients and insentents. Perchance while admitting atoms, space etc. to be realities independent of God, you may assert that God is the giver of fruits of our actions, but this proposition also will equally fail. On this part it would be advisible to consult "Sad-darsana-samuccaya" which has dealt with this topic at length. 3. NATURE OF MOKSA. 9-What is Moksa (Salvation)? A-Moksa or salvation is the absolute liberation of self from anger, conceit, greed and other nescient propensities which bind the soul with earthly coils and other limitations. There is a natural

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GOVARDHANADASA : MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA 45 urge in life to be free from all bondages and limitations. A close consideration of this urge makes the truth of the above saying of the wisemen to be self evident. 4. POSSIBILITY OF MOKSA. Q-Is it possible for an embodied soul to know precisely whether he would attain Moksa or not? A.-Just as a man whose hands have been tightly bound down with a rope, on being slowly and slowly loosened, feels a great relaxation from bondage and begins to perceive as if the rope has ceased to exist or exert any influence, similarly the soul which is bound down with various kinds of nescient emotions, on being slowly and slowly released from them, beings to feel the glory of salavtion. The more and more the streaks of these emotions fade away, the more and more the soul shines in its lustre untarnished with ignorance. As soon as there is a complete extinction of these nescient forces, soul even though it is full splendour with a consciousness of freedom all round. Thus the soul though residing in this body enjoys the blessings of salvation. 5. TRANSMIGRATION IN LOWER CONDITIONS OF LIFE. -It is said in scriptures that a man after death goes to animal, mineral and vegetable lives according to his actions. Do you think it to be right? A. -When a soul on death leaves one's body to occupy the other, he moves according to his accumulated karmas. In that state sometimes he takes up the animal life and sometimes the mineral one. In mineral state soul experiences the fruits of its karmas only with the help of the touch sense, leaving the other four senses. It does not mean that in mineral state soul becomes earth or stone, rather in this state soul assumes a physical shape akin to stone and itself resides there in an invisible form. Since in this state soul does not possess the other senses besides the touch sense, so it is called prthvi-kaya-jiva i. e. a soul with earth body and it is an (eka-indriya) one-sensed being. By and by after experiencing the fruits of his Karmas, when it leaves that form to assume other form of life then its earthly body made of stone is merely a heap of particles devoid of life. After the departure of soul it does not evince the instincts of hunger, sex, fear and accumulation. Please mind, that a soul in mineral state is not absolutely mineral, it has got a living aspect also. It is all due to its own nescient tendencies that a soul by their fruetification has to assume an order of life which is one-sensed

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46 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 in consuousness and stonish in physical appearance. It is not merely a stone or a boulder of earth. A soul sometimes assumes the animal form also, but thereby it does not become purely an embodied animal. To assume a bodily form is merely the putting of an apparel, it is not its nature. With regard to the 6th and 7th questions, it will be sufficient to say that stone or earth is not the doer of karmas, rather it is the soul, which is embodied therein, which is the doer of karmas, Inspite of its embodiment, the soul and the body are as distinct from each other as milk and water are. Just as water and milk when mixed togther look as one and the same, but in reality water is water and milk is milk i. e. in their speciality both of them are separate entities. Similarly though a soul in its one-sensed mineral state, owing to the bondage of karmas looks like an inanimate stone, yet in reality the soul is soul and it retains its separate entity, for in that state also it experiences the urges of the instincts of hunger, sex, fear and accumulation which are invisible to a naked eye. 8. NATURE OF DHARMA (RELIGION). Q-What is the Arya Dharma or the sublime religion? Is it right to say that almost all the religions have originated from the Vedas? A.-1. While describing Arya Dharma, almost all Faiths claim to be the "Arya Dharma", the Buddhists declare Buddhism to be so and the Vedantis name the Vedanta as such. Thus it has become a common thing, but for the wise the "Arya Dharma" is that spiritual path which leads one to self-realisation. It is indeed the Arya Dharma or the sublime religion. 2. It does not seem possible that almost all the religions originated from the Vedas. The reason for this, as I understand, is that the knowledge propounded by the Tirthankaras and other Teachers is far greater than that found in the Vedas. And this makes me to conclude that a perfect thing cannot be born from a limited one. Therefore it is not reasonable to presume that almost all religions originated from the Vedas. Vaisnavism, and others are, of course, certain religions which might have originated from the Vedas. No doubt the Vedas existed long before Mahavira and Buddha, the last propounders of Jainism and Buddhism, and we may grant a still greater antiquity to them, but this fact alone does not establish the suggested proposition, because time and truth do not go hand in hand. There is no logic in saying that whatever is antique is perfect and true, and whatever is new is imperfect and untrue. As a matter of fact, everything in its essence is eternat, but is subject to modification. There is nothing which

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GOVARDHANADASA : MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA 47 is absolutely destructible or absolutely producible. Thus we can say that the Vedic, Jain and all other faiths are eternal, but this much alone does not serve our purpose. We have still to find out which of these principles are strong and sound to make us achieve our aspirations of life. 9. THE VEDAS DISCUSSED Q-Who composed the Vedas? Are they eternal? If eternal, what does eternal mean? A.-1. It seems that the Vedas are old compositions. 2. Any scripture in the shape of a book cannot be eternal, but of course if taken by their teachings every scripture is eternal; because there is not a single teaching which has not been announced by different people in different ways. Himsa-cult is, as old as the doctrine of Ahimsa. The thing worth-consideration is its value, i. e. how far it is useful for the living beings. Undoubtedly both are eternal, truth as well as untruth, but the thing is that sometimes the untruth takes the upperhand while at others, truth comes out triumphant. 10 THE BHAGAVAD-GITA Q-Who composed the Gita? It does not appear to be composed by god. What is the proof of its being composed by God? A.-1. The above answers will be somewhat helpful in solving these questions provided "God" is taken to mean an all-wise and allknowing being. But if the conception of God is taken to mean an eternal, inactive and all-pervading entity like space, then, of course, it becomes quite impossible to conceive that such a God ever composed any book; because an act like the composition of a book has a beginning and whatever has a beginning cannot be said to be eternal. 2. It is said that Gita was composed by Veda-Vyasa and because it deals with the lessons given by lord Krsna to Arjuni, so primaraly Lord Krsna is said to be its author and this is all probable : This scripture is cerainly very nice, and whatever teachings are contained in it, they also are comming down to us from eternity. But it does not imply that its slokas were composed by an inactive God. An active embodied being alone can possibly be conceived to be their composer. In the light of the above discussion, there is no harm in believing that god is an all-wise, all-knowing Being and the scriptures containing lessons taught by Him are "God's Book" (Isvariya Sastra).

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48 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 11. DISCUSSION ABOUT BLOODY SACRIFICE Q-Is there any merit in performing bloody sacrifice? A. -The man only acquires demerit by slaughtering, sacrificing or causing the slightest pain to animals. It matters little, whether the animal is killed for sacrifice or for the sake of God in a temple. It is true that alms are given at the time of sacrifice which are a source of gaining merit, but being associated with himsa, i. e. injury to animals this sort of alms-giving also should not be consented to. 12. RATIONALISM Q-When it is said that Dharma or Religion is the highest thing, then is there any harm in asking reasons for its superiority and validity? A. -To declare the superiority and validity of the teachings of Dharma without considering the reasons thereof is undoudtedly very armful, for it will give rise to propagation of all sorts of things good or bad, meritorious and demeritorious. The validity or non-validity, superiority or otherwise of a thing can only be established by cogent and potent reasons. I think only those teachings of dharma are best which prove thimselves to be strong and sound in destroying the cycle of births and deaths; and in realising this pure and peaceful state of life. 13. CHRISTIANITY DISCUSSED Q-Do you know anything about Christianity? If so, what do you think about it? A. -I have ordinary information about Christianity, but it is a thing of common knowledge that the methods of thought and achievement of the Indian sages are different from those of the foreigners. In Christianity soul is always believed to be dependent on others, even in the highest heaven it is not taken to be free from limitations and bondages. In its scriptures very little light has been thrown on the real intrinsic nature of soul. There is neither any systematic description of the causes of birth, death and other various vicissitudes of life, nor has it dealt with the right ways and methods for the removeal of those causes. For these reasons Christianity does not appeal to me to be the highest religion. This opinion of mine is not based on any religious prejudice. If you want to know anything further in this connection, I shall try to elucidate it.

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GOVARDHANADASA : MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA 14. JESUS CHRIST AND THE BIBLE Q-It is an article of faith with the Christians that 'Bible is the word of God and Jesus Christ is His son. What's your opinion about it? A. This thing can, of course, be believed as an article of faith, but it cannot be established by proof. The same reasoning which I have advanced above to disprove the godly character of the Gita and the Vedas can usefully be aplied to the Bible as well. You will keep in mind that God is a Perfect Being liberated from the cycles of birth and death, therefore a Being who gets incarnated or takes birth can never be a God. As birth is the result of attachment and aversion and God is devoid of these blemishes, God can never be conceived of assuming births and incarnations. Allegorically, of course, Jesus can be taken to be a son of God, but rationally such a belief is untenable. How can there be a son to a liberated God? If for the sake of argument, it may be taken to be true, then how this birth will be conceived to have taken place. Still further, if this relationship of father and son be taken to be eternal, then how will this relationship hold good? All these things are worth consideration in this connection. As far as I think, these things when analysed would never come true. 49 15. PROPHECY OF OLD TESTAMENT 9.-The prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament has come out to be true. How do you explain it? A.-It does not alter the position. It may be so, still we have to judge the validity of the testimony of both the Testaments. Moreover such a Prophecy about Jesus' birth is no sound proof of his being an incarnation of God, because such prophecies of birth are possible to be made on the basis of astrology etc. It is also possible that Jesus' birth might have been prophesied by some person by intuition, but in the absence of congent proof it cannot be accepted. And such sooth-sayers cannot be held to be omniscient teachers. Such a prophecy appears to be based more on faith than on any reasoning, for there are so many difficulties in the way of its being accepted as true. 16. MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE Q.-There are so many miracles about Jesus narrated in the Bible, what do you say about them? A. -It is quite impossible for a dead body to be resurrected by the entry of the soul which has left it, or by some other soul. If such

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50 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 a thing begins to happen, then the whole science of causation of birth and death will come to an end. But there is no gainsaying the fact that various sorts of miraculous powers are achieved by spiritual discipline and yogic practices. It is all within the pale of possibility that Jesus also might have attained several of these powers, but mind, such powers are far inferior to the glory of omnipotent soul. Glory and grandeur of soul is infinite. You may better discuss this point when we meet. 17. PAST AND FUTURE INCARNATIONS 0.-- Is it possible for us to know about our future and past births? -Yes. It is possible. Men of unblemished knowledge can know such things by intuition Even ordinary people can know them by logical reasoning. Just as by looking at the clouds and other symptoms of weather a rainfull can be ascertained, so also by looking at the tendencies of a being, it is easy to determine his previous set of life which led to his present birth. By this method, of course, it is likely that one may not be able to visualise the full picture of his previous life, still a good deal thereof can be known. Similarly from the above symptoms, it is possible to ascertain one's future trends of life as well. The more minutely we go into the details of one's life, the more vivid picture of his future and previous births would come to light. 18. FUTURE AND PAST BIRTHS Q. --WHO WILL KNOW IT? A.-So far as this question is concerned, it is already covered by the above answer. 19. THE OMNISCIENT TEACHERS Q.-You have named so many omniscient Teachers well, what is the proof of their being so? A. --- If you ask this question with particular reference to my experiences, then I would like to answer it in this way. "A man who has risen above his mundane state, develops in his such a divine life, that his very words, look and presence inspire in others the same sort of feelings of peace, bliss and excellence as felt by him." From this it is natural to infer that he has attained Moksa or liberation. Besides my experiences there are so many scriptures to verify this truth.

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GOVARDHANADASA : MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA 51 20. THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSE DISCUSSED Q.-What do you think about the final fate of the universe? A.-It is all unbelievable to me that one day the universe will be empty of souls and the drama of life will come to an end due to their liberation. To me the universe is a running concern. It is a system of double traffic of birth and death, of integration and disintegration. It will go on to be what it is today. Change, of course, is its law. The old order is being replaced by the new. If it grows in one part, it decays in the other. If we make a close study of this problem we would come to the conclusion that total destruction or pralaya of this universe is but impossible. Universe does not mean this earth alone. 21. EQUITY AND INEQUITY Q. - Will there ever develop an equitable order out of the inequities of today? A.-From the answer of this question if anydody tries to indulge in inequities, he should be discouraged from doing so at all events. Both equity and inequity are incessant tendencies but it is most desirable that we should ever try to adopt equity and give up immoral and unjust ways of life, rather it is our duty to do so for the spiritual progress. It is inconceivable that all living beings will give up their inequities one day and equity will prevail everywhere. It is a mere utopia to think that such a state of affairs will ever come. 22. EXTINCTION OF THE UNIVERSE g. - Is there such a thing as a total extinction of the universe? A. -- If by pralaya you mean total extinction then such a thing is quite impossible, because there is nothing which is absolutely destructible. But if by pralaya you mean an absorption of the universe into God etc., then it may be acceptable to some extent, but to my mind, even this doesn't appear to be possible. It is inconceivable that in some remote future all the souls and other objects of the universe will reach such a stage of similarity of change and uniformity of nature that they would all mingle together as one without any distinction bringing the whole show to an absolute rest. If once such a stage is reached, it is equally inconceivable, "how this uniformity will be disturbed to restart activity?" If by pralaya you mean an invisible diversity and a visible uniformity of souls, it would be equally untenable, for in the absence of bodies, there will be no medium of diversity in

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JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 them. If you take your stand on the diversity of sex instincts of souls, we will have to presume that in pralaya all beings are onesensed. If we proceed on this presumption, the absence of other form of life i. e. two-sensed or three-sensed etc. in pralaya becomes inexplicable. In short the conception of the total extinction of the universe is altogether untenable. 23. BHAKTI DISCUSSED Q.-Is it possible to get Moksa by Bhakti alone, without achievement of knowledge? A. - Bhakti or devotion leads to knowledge, and knowledge leads to Moksa. Illiteracy is no hindrance to devotion and knowledge, for knowledge is the very essence of soul. The significance of devotion lies in the fact that it purifies knowledge and the pure knowledge leads to Moksa. According to my belief, there is no attainment of Moksa. without the acquistion of perfact knowledge. It needs no stress to pay that perfect knowledge includes the knowledge of languages as well. Undoudtedly literacy is helpful in Moksa, But it is not compulsory to be literate to acquire knowledge of self. 24. AVATARA-VADA Q.-How far is it true to say that Krsna and Rama are the avataras or incarnations of God? If so, what does the idea of avatara imply? Were they gods themselves or a part of God? Will moksa be attainable by worshipping them? A.-1. I belive that Rama and Krsna were great personages. Since they were souls, they were certainly God also, and if they have annihilated their bondages of karma, there can be no dispute in their having attained Moksa as well. But I cannot accept the theory of a living being as a part of God, because there are thousands of things which militate against this idea. In the first instance thereby the well-recognised differentition between our mundane state of bondage and our cherished goal of emancipation will be put to nought. Secondly, thereby all the nescient tendencies of life e. g. anger, greed, deceit and conceit etc. which are subduing the worldly beings will be equally attributable to God and if they are so attributed God will no longer remain Godthe highest ideal of life. He will lose His Godhood and will become as one of the ordinary beings. Thirdly, under this theory all worldly beings will become as perfect as God, and they will stand no need of exerting themselves for procurement of any ends of life. Moreover, they will no longer be liable for any fruits of their actions. When in face of such flaws and fallacies the above idea

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GOVARDHANADASA: MAHATMA GANDHI AND KAVI RAJACANDRA is not at all appealable, then how such great personages as Rama and Krsna can be taken as parts of God? Though there is no harm in accepting that both of these great personages were God in embryo, yet it is to be considered whether perfect glory of Godhood had bloomed in them or not. 53 2. The answer to your second part of question is very easy and you already know that Moksa means the spiritual state of freedom from all kinds of attachment, aversion and ignorance etc. So by whosesoever teachings this pure state of freedom be attainable, his worship, of course, is most fruitful, because by devotion to him the devotee will necessarily contemplate upon the glorious and blissful state of the adored, and will acquire faith in the similar ultimate state of himself and by practice will mould himself in the same set of life as that of the worshipful. Thus it will be possible for the devotee to attain Moksa as a result of his devotion to the worshipful. Except this no other forms of worship are advisable for the attainment of Moksa. Other forms may prove helpful to attract him to the true path, but it is not a certainty. 25. TRINITY 9. -Who are Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara? A. It is possible that these terms might be representatives of the three fundamental functions of the Universe, viz. creation (Brahma), disruption (Mahesvara) and maintenance (Visnu): If so their personification as deities is well and good; or they might be allegorical names of some other trinity of aspects, [such as the three aspects of the primeval Lord Vrsabha: first as Visnuthe great ruler who laid down foundation of state and society, secondly, as Mahesvara the mahayogi who destroyed the worlds of birth, death and old age; thirdly, as Brahma, the omniscient sage who gave the knowledge of great truth of the eternal drama of life. Taken in this way the idea becomes intelligible, but] the accounts as given in the Puranas do not at all appeal to me. My interpretation finds support from this fact also that there are many great truths which have been described in the Puranas in allegorial forms for teaching by lessons. We should also try to derive benefit from the lessons of this allegory without entering into controverial matters about Brahma etc. To me this allegorical interpretation looks very nice.

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54 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 26. THE PROBLEM OF AHIMSA Q.-If a snake comes to bite us, what should we do? Should we remain calm and silent and allow it to bite, or kill it outright to save ourselves? A-If I reply this question in the affirmative and say let the snake bite you, it would, of course, become a great problem; but anyhow for those who have realised the truth that body is a transient thing, it would not be at all reasonable to kill a creature which is attached to body. So my reply to this question is that those who are anxious for their spiritual good, should, when confronted with such situation, offer their body to snake rather than take out its life. You may well ask, "well, what about those who care a little for spiritual good?" For such people my simple reply is that "let them wander in wretched forms like hell etc. How can one like myself advise them to kill a snake? It is the non-Aryan attitude of mind which teaches the killing of serpents or other creatures. We should ever aspire to be free from such attitude even in dream. Such are my answers to your questions in short and here I close my letter. In the end I will advise you to study closely the book entitled "Sad-darsana-samuccaya" and ponder over these answers a bit seriously. In case you need any thing further by letter, you may please just write to me. I shall then try to elucidate it. The best thing of course is that we should meet together and have a personal talk about these questions. Ever engaged in solemn thinking on the ultimate nature of self-the greatest sourse of inspiration. BOMBAY Samvat 1950 Kanvar Vadi 6, Saturday, Raichandra Offers respects Such were the questions and answers which were carried on between the two geniuses. Their value and importance is beyond question. Originally they were written in the Gujarati language and I think, it is the first occasion that they are rendered into English and are being reproduced here. I am glad to note that Bro. Jai Bhagwan Jain, advocate of Panipat, has very kindly revised the English translation, for which I am thankful to him. I am sure, these questions and answers will prove most interesting and instructive to the readers.

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THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVES DR VINCENT SEKHAR, S.J. Sramana perspectives are different from and, at times, opposed to Vedic and Brahmana perspectives. "Srama" means 'austerity' (sama or samata bhava). Sramanas are those whose views and lifestyle pertain to an ascetic ethos (nivsttimarga) where renunciation, detachment, moral discipline etc. play an important role, while Vedic and the Brahmanic views are life-affirming and liberal.2 The Sramana history reveals their link with Mohanjodaro-Harappa cultures and Indus Valley Civilization. The ascetic practices of the Sramanas are indicated in the seals discovered in those areas. The references to Sisnadevah in the Vedas bring out the then existing religious symbols of worship ('nude deities' refering to the Tirthankaras of the Jains). Some Vedic prayers refer to those people who were anti-vedic and against ritual sacrifices. Indra is sought for protection from them.3 The existing Sramana religions, such as Jainism and Buddhism, have been, from their very inception, maintaining an anti-vedic trend in their thinking. What we today call Hinduism is a mixture of these two distinct traditions. 1. Some illustrations from the canonical texts of Jainism will suffice to prove to us the renunciatory and ascetic spirit of the Sramanas: What avails riches for the practice of Religion, what a family, what pleasures: we shall become sramanas possessed of many virtues, and wander about collecting alms' (Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 14:16-17): 'Happy are we, happy live we who call nothing our own...' (ibid 9:14): 'Pleasures will bring only a moment's happiness, but suffering for a long time... they are an obstacle to the liberation from existence and are a very mine of evils' (ibid 14:12-13); 'Leaving his wealth, sons, relations and property, leaving sorrow that never ceases. (a monk) should wander about without any wordly interests' (Sutrakstanga 1.9.7). 2. Rgveda 1.1.3. It is a prayer to Agni for prosperity, for wealth and for glorious and most abounding in heroes; 1.1.7 prayer to Agni for illumination and to dispell gloom; II. 12 prayer to Indra implicitly affirming and praying for valour, strong sons ctc. 3. Rgveda V. l. 100-108 and VII. 22.5.

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56 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 The deep enquiry into the self has been a revolutionary change from the then existing popular trend to sacrificial ritualism and its heavenly fruits.4 Buddhism does not explicitly deny a soul but it only affirms impermanancy to any reality. Both Jainism and Buddhism acknowledge sacrificial rituals as only means (plava evd 'frail boats' to cross the river of Ufe) and not as ends.5 Even bad as well as good deeds result in karma formation and hence they have to be transcended. heavenly abodes are only a 'better' resting place for the time being and not for ever, the end. The end is total liberation from samsara sagara for which ascetic practices and moral discipline are a must. To the sramana, human person is only one entity in the totality of living and non-living entities. To a Jain, human person is only one among the sad jivas or six-living beings from one sense to 6 senses. All that pertain to a jia, its qualities and the like are shared by all living orgainsms in different intensities. To a Buddhist, human person is like any one of the passing phenomena. The nature and singnificance of a human person in these two traditions are founded on their understanding of reality. In both theses traditions human birth is held high. It is only through human existence a fwa can work for its own salvation or total liberation. Jaina tradition affirms the innate strength of a jiva, the capacity for full growth in a metaphysical and religious sense. Any outside helper such as time, nature, fate, accident, God or isvara etc. 4. Buddhism is opposed to any outward and non-moral conception of purity (Dhammapada ch.26, on what it means to be a true Brahman). It has rather condemned 'austerity' measures for purification (Samyutta Nikaya I. 103); 'fire rituals' for purification (Samyutta Nikaya I. 169); also 'tapas' of the five fires (Digha Nikaya I. 165 1): 'water ablutions for purification (Sam. N.I. 183 also Majjhima Nikaya I. 39). Buddha advocates ethical purity unaided by external symbols and emphasised the inward purifying fire (see Dhammapada, 'path of purity'). 5. Sacrifices could not do any more than secure temporary happiness in higher forms of existence and not completely free people from the cycle of cycle of existence. (Chandogya Upanisad ch.8, Mundaka Upanisad I.2); Vedic and allied knowledge and all existing knowledge was clearly recognized as insufficient for the attainment of salvation (Chand. Up.7.10; Br. Up. vi. 2; Kath Up.I. ii..23); brahmins go to the ksatriyas to learn about the nature of atman (for instance, Asvapati Kaikeya, Sacred Books of the East, Vol, 1, pp 85-91; Chand. Up. v. 11.24; v.3.7; Br. Up.ii.1). Incidentally Jainism and Buddhism are known as 'Ksatriya Religions'.

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SEKHAR : THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST 57 are only superficial. The idea of karma and its efficasy are sufficient to explain the whole of life. It is not in a fatalistic sense that karma has been described as the root of samsara but in the sense of selfdetermination. Miserys is produced by one's own works (the belief of kriyavadins). It is for this reason that sramana religions are called religions of Self-help.9 The folowing pages will explain what these systems mean by Human Person, how the person is linked to other reatities and vice-versa, its destiny etc. JAINA UNDERSTANDING OF A HUMAN PERSON Samayasara, one of the foremost revered Digamdara Jaina religious texts, describes the nature of Jiva (Living Being) in genneral and we can draw implications for the human person in particular. Samayasara makes a clear distinction between the empirical and the transcendental self. From the empirical point of view, the self (Jiva), associated with the matter (non-self), becomes the agent of actions and experiences, pain and pleasure. From the transcendental point of view the self has nothing to do with the matter. 10 What 6. Svetasvetara Upanisad gives the summary of schools of thought giving prominence to either one or the other of these factors responsible for the cause of universe, misery etc. Jaina thinkers are 'Kriyavadins' who believe that misery is produced by one's own works, not by those of somebody else, namely, fate, creator etc. (Sutrakrtanga 1-12.11) Syad-vadamanjari and Sad-darsana-samuccaya bring out a refutation of the existence of an eternal, omniscient God (Syad. man.p 29f; sad. Sam. 45f) The doctrine of a personal' God who created the universe 'ex nihilo' is not found in Buddhism, such a being is neither expicitly affirmed nor denied: 'Inconceivable, O Monks, said Buddha, is this samsara; not to be discovered is any first beginning of beings. 7. The conditions of living being arise from karma (Acaranga Sutra 1.3.1.4, 1.3.2.3, 1.4.3.1; Sutrakrtanga, I.2.1.4, 1.2.3.18). 8. Misery is produced by on's own works, not by those of somebody else' (Sutrakrtanga, I.12.11); 'Mother, father, daughter-in-law, brother, wife and sons will not be able to help me when I suffer from my own deeds... (Sut.Kr.1.9.5, Uttaradhyayanasutra, 6.31) Because the doer of the acts must suffer for them' (Sut.kr. 1.9.4): 'No one can escape the effects of their own actions' (Utt. Sutra 4.3); 'Karma follows the doer' (Utt.Sutra 13.23). 9. 'Man, thou art thy own friend, why wishes thou for a friend beyond thyself?' (Acarangasutra 1.8.3.4). 10. Samayasara, 2, 150 (Samayasara explains siva in its real sense for an understnading of person according to Samayasara of Acarya Kundakunda, see article of the author in Jain Journal', Jain Bhavan Publication, Calcutta, Vol 25, Jan. 1991, pp. 110-108)

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58 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 distinguishes the self (jiva) from the non-self (aja) is the quality of consciousness." Matter, composed of atoms, forms the basis of body, speech, mind and vital airs12, and worldly enjoyment, pain, life, death are also caused by matter. 13 Any living organism is called a jiva. There are innumeral jwas in the world (lokakasa) both fettered (bandha jiva) and unfettered or liberated (mukta jiva). the liberated beings have nothing to do with the empirical world. That which fetters a jiva is called karma which is conceived in a materialistic sense. 14 Karma is sublte matter particle (suksma pudgala) which prevails all over the world. This matter particle flows into the jiva as it experiences passions (Kasaya). According to the intensity of these emotional experiences karma formation takes place in a jiva. This link between hva and karma is analogous to the combination of water and milk, earth and ores. 15 It is because of such a link, a person is both constant as well as changing (Tattvartha Sutra, 5.29-31,37). Svabhava paryaya in a person is in a constant change due to its own nature, raga and dvesa, and vibhava paryaya are due to the contact with the universe, environment etc. Any fettered being was at no time liberated. The karmic bond has been from time immemorial16 and the fettered siva must have had several lives in the four states of existence, namely, Deva, Naraka, Manusya and Tiryak gati, that is, as gods, hellish beings, human persons and animal/vegetable kingdom. One interesting, logical anecdote is that in sramana tradition even the gods are not spared. 17 They are fettered beings and as such they too have the long way towards full enlightenment or total liberation. Hence the Vedic concept of gods and their abodes are only milestones in the journey of a fiva towards fuller freedom. The bandha jivas or the fettered beings experience their bondage because of and in the presence of other realities in the world, be 11. Dravyasamgraha, 3. 12. Tattvarthasutra, 5.19. 13. ibid., 5. 20. 14. The Upanisadic and Patanjali's description of Karma suggest that some 'thing' is left behind by one's actions as a 'substance', this material nature of Karman was fully developed by the Jain thinkers from ancient times. 15. Gunaratna's commentary on Haribhadra's Sad-darsana-samuccaya, p. 181, as quoted in D.M. Datta, Introduction to Indian Philosophy, p. 103. 16. Pancadhyayi, 2.35 ref.D.N.Bhargavea, Jaina Ethics, Motilal Banasidass, Delhi, 1968, p. 53, n. 1. 17. For a detailed study of gods and goddesses in Jainism see the article of the author in "Jinamanjari'. Bramhi Society Publications, Canada, Vol V. No.II, Oct. 1992, pp51-59, 'Jaina Regligious Consciousness'.

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SEKHAR THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST they other fivas or ajiva or non-living beings such as the material world, the dynamic forces of rest and activity ('adharma' and 'dharma', concepts are found only in the Jaina philosophical system), space and time. 18 The very presence of the lokakasa wherein we find the above-said five elements evoke different emotions in a jiva and, subsequently, the process of bondage takes place. 19 It is explained in a dramatic way like the formation of a sticky substane20 in all the place (technically known as pradesa or space) of jiva and a consequent sticking of the inflowing subtle karma matter particles. This whole process of the presence of fiva-ajiva, the consequent changes occuring in a fiva and the subsequent bondage is generally compared to the rise of waves in the ocean on the day of full moon,21 or oil-smeared body/mirror attracting dusts, or a magnet attracting the iron particles. No other philosophical system has so much worked on the concept of karma, the process of bondage, and the subsequent results as the Jaina system. All Jaina karma granthas or Jaina texts on karma theory have enumerated the varieties of karma and their results in a meticulous way.22 Jaina psycho-analysis brings out an interesting notion called lesya or 'soul-colouring'.23 Depending on the itensity of karma formation each jiva gets a particular colourtinge just as the colour of a person's body bit by a poisonous snake. Thus on the basis of soul-colouring the jivas are classified into six categories. This soul-colouring indicates the antique nature of a philosophical trdition whose animistic theory dates back to the far end of stone-age. The human person with its 6 senses (mind being included) shares 59 18. Tattvartha-sutra, 5.29. 19. ibid. 6.1-2, 5; Samayasara, 23 Acaranga Sutra says that for the sake of the splendour, honour, glory of this life, for the sake of birth, death and final liberation, for the removal of pain man acts sinfully towards earth, or causes others to act so, or allows others to act so. This deprives him of happiness and perfect wisdom (Acar.sut. I.1.2.3). 20. Tattvartha-sutra, 2.6. 21. Gunaratna's commentary on Haribhadra's Sad-darsana-Samuccaya. p. 181, as quoted in S.N.Das Gupta, A History of Indian Philosophy. Vol. I, p. 194. 22. Tattvartha-Sutra, ch. 6. 23. Sutrakrtanga, 1.6.13; Acaranga Sutra, I. 15.16 The classification of living beings in terms of six colours may be traced in Parsva's (23rd Tirthankara) doctrine of six jiva nikayas (Acaranga Sutra, II.15.16). The Jaina religious efforts are directed towards the acquisition of pure (white) lesya (Sutrakrtanga, I.10.15).

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60 the lot of all other living organisms, namely karmic bondage and the innate energy of release from such a bondage. The Jain Philosophy says that jiva in its pure or unfettered sense is anata jnana, ananta darsana, ananta virya and ananta sukha i. e. perfect knowledge, perfect vision, perfect strength and perfect bliss.24 A liberated being is described in this way also. What obscures this perfection is the karmic dust smeared on the jiva. It is this dust that has formed the karma sarira and which is the cause for the varieties in organic life in all its dimensions such as intellect, physique, emotions, family, state of existence and the like. Hence the cause for one's state of existence is not traced to nature, fate, accident, gods etc. but to the karmic residue in a jiva. Though circumstances and other similar causes might be the reasons for one's being what he or she or it is, yet in an 'absolute sense', it is karma that is the deciding factor. What prevents a human person to achieve its pure ideal of ananta catustaya, namely the above mentioned four-fold perfections, such as, perfect knowledge etc. is the 'inflow' of karmic paritcles into the space of jiva due to various reasons, 25 like, perversity of outlook or improper vision (mithyatva), absence of determinism or vowlessness (avirati), indifference to higher values of life or neglience (pramada), intense passions (kasaya) and the three kinds of acitivity of speech, mind and body (yoga). It is due to such an inflow of karma, a human person (for that matter any living being) is far from 'samyakta' or the 'right' knowledge, vision and conduct. JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 Incidentally Jaina soteriology points out an ethics in the form of a 'Tripple Jewel', samyag jnana, samyag darsanaand samyak caritra26 (Right knowledge, Right vision and Right conduct), an 'integral' approach to life. Though knowledge and faith are absolute requirements for a jiva, yet the goal or the objective of a jiva (including a human person) namely the complete shedding up of karma27 cannot be achieved without an ethical way of life. Without conduct or morality a fiva with knowledge and faith is like a lame person. Samvara and Nirjara are the two of the seven Jaina metaphysical principles that describe the ethical path of a jiva. Samvara refers to the stopping' of the karmic inflow just as in the case of cleaning up of a tank with muddy water. First one needs to put a stop to the 24. Sarvarthasiddhi (a commentry on the Tattvartha-sutra by Pujyapada) 25. Tattvartha-sutra, 8. 1. 26. Samayasara, 7,10. 27. Liberation or Moksa is a state free from all Karmas due to shedding of the karmas (Tattvartha-sutra, 10.2-3). x.4.

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SEKHAR THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST inflow of muddy water into the tank and then clean up the tank. Similarly Samvara refers to certain moral activities like diligent practice of the vows, right attitude of mind. impassionate dealings, control over senses/passions and 'ayoga'.28 'Ayoga' refers to 'inactivity'. Jaina meditational postures such as kayotsarga (standing posture) implies an 'arresting of movement' i. e., inactivity. Jaina understanding is that action brings about karma, whether auspicious or inauspicious and both are linked to repeated births, whereas the objective of life is to put an end to the cycle of births and deaths and hence Jainism advocates 'ayoga' or inactivity. The final spiritual stage in the ladder of perfection is known as the 'ayogakevali' stage. Jaina ethics points out that one has to transcend both good as well as bad activities (subha and asudha karma) in order to attain 'purity' of actions (suddha).29 This mental purity does not accrue karmic encrustations. Both Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha are believed to have carried out their mission in this world with such an attitude. Transcending passions in three modes of act (body, mind, and speech) implies samata bhava or equanimity (and hence the word Sramana or Samana). The Bhagavad Gita30 in its effort to reconcile the Vedic/Brahmanic and Sramanic traditions substitutes 'Niskama Karma' (Passionless act) to 'inactivity'. Both niskama of Gita and suddha of the Jains are mutually inter-changeable. 61 The great ideal of life, namely Moksa, demands further 'purification' of the living beings and this is not possible without 'austerity'. 'Tapasa nirjarasca' is the dictum. Complete annihilation of karma is possible only by tapas or austerity. Jaina ethics enumerates internal and external austerity-measures, 31 such as silence, study. reflection, meditation etc. A human person has to engage in listening to the word of the Tirthankaras, reflect upon them and meditate. Certain 'themes for reflection' (anupreksas) are given. They are the basic reflections on life and reality. For instance, the impermanancy of the world, the 'aloneness' of the soul i. e., the soul in its true nature is not identified with emotions, activity, material elements etc., karmic inflow and bondage, the method of Release etc. The human person in an 'absolute' and 'real' sense is God (to put it theistically), but looks and behaves as though a 'good' who tries to climb the ladder of perfection.32 The Jaina philosophical 28. 'He who does not undertake new acts does not acquire karman; sinful acts are got rid of by him who does not undertake any new acts' (Sutrakrtanga, I.10.16). 29. Samayasara, 270 30; Bhagavad-Gita 4.19,23. 31. Tattvartha-sutra, 9.19-20. 32. Jaina ethics speaks about a ladder of 14 stages of perfection known as the Gunasthanas (Tattvartha-sutra, ch.6).

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62 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 system explains this journey of the human soul towards achieving such an ultimate religious identity, namely the Tirthankara-hood. EARLY BUDDHIST UNDERSTANDING OF A HUMAN PERSON While Lord Mahavira gave a definite answer to many metaphysical questions pertaining to the body, the soul, the world etc.. Lord Buddha did not care to reply to any such question (He only said that they were not useful for the ultimate purpose of life, namely attaining Nirvana). The silence of Buddha was taken as 'Avyalrta', in-expressible. Buddha and Mahavira, though they were contemporary Sramana thinkers, differed from each other regarding the foundamental question on Atman. Buddha after he took up mendicancy visited the brahmanic teachers Alara kalama and others in order to discuss with them the prevalent belief on Atman. Buddha was not convinced by their arguments and his personal experience was different. He thought that the world sought to passify itself insatiable, because of the belief in the theory of Atman (Buddha seemed to have identified realization of Atman with Egoism). Moreover the experience of dissatisfaction caused by the sight of a man suffering from extreme old age, a sick man and a corpse being carried out to burning ghat, brought Buddha to the realization that desire to be has to be curbed in order to be freed from all forms of dukkha. His first preaching at the Deerpark of Benares to certain ascetics who had formerly been his companions contains some of the fundamental principles of early Buddhist thought and practice. This discourse mentioned in the Dhamma Cakkappavattana sutta of Sutta Nipata33 enumerates the Four Noble Truths regarding dukkha. samudaya, dukkha nirodha and dukka nirodha marga (the cause and origin of pain and its extinction), and the Eightfold path of ethical, mental and bodily discipline to attain the End. Buddha spent nearly six years in extreme ascetic practices, got dis-illusioned with it34 and he then sat down for meditation at the foot of the Bodhi tree at Uruvela beside river Niranjana. The only 33. Sutta-Nipata V. 420. 34. The reason for Buddha's avoidance and condemnation of extreme ascetic practices like self-inflicted pain etc. was that instead of achieving the purpose or the end, they increased more pain and hence they were considered 'Dukkha' (Majjima-Nikaya, ii. 93, 212; i.237): 'Not by this better cause of painful hardship shall I arrive at that separate and supreme vision of all-suffering, noble (arya) knowledge, passing human . Might there be another path of enlightenment?' (Majjima-Nikaya, i. 307).

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SEKHAR : THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST 63 enlightement he received was that there was no reality that was permanent and everything35 was passing. This impermanence was the root cause for dissatisfaction. Creatures desired to fill themselves up to make up for the loss but in turn they were caught up in a whirlpool of continued existences which further got sustained by desire and the like. The foremost thing a person should realize was his/her own impermanancy. Buddha hoped that this realization would surely bring persons to non-attachment to things and to persons. This logic is beautifully summarized in the Buddhist triple principle (ti-lakkhana) of anicca, anatta and dukkha : transitoriness, non-substanbility and pain/evil. Impermance (anicca) is a feature of all mundane existence. It is empirically observable at the physical levels in a human body, whose constituent elements are in a constant flux quite apart from the more obvious bodily impermance observable in difference between infancy, childhood, youth, maturity and old age. Even more impermanent is the human mind, or consciousness which arises and ceases from moment to moment36 though it is not readily observable empirically. It has to be discerned : 'The characteristic of impermanance does not become apparent, because when rise and fall are not given attention, it is concealed by continuity.....However, when continuity is disrupted by discerning rise and fall, the characteristic of impermanance becomes appparent in its true nature. 37 Each moment of consciousness is regarded as being formed from cause and condition and as being unstable, and therefore immediately dissolving. The analogy of the sound of a lute is used: 'this does not come from any store of sounds. nor does it go anywhere when it has ceased ; rather, from not having been, it is brought into existence by the lute and the player's effort, and then having been, it vanishes37 so with all material and mental events : they came to be, and having been, vanish. Anicca provides subject matter for contemplation for the Buddhists. Anatta is the doctrine that there is not (an-) permanent self (-atta) within each individual being. This concept is entirely peculiar to Buddhism, distinguishing it from all other religious and philosophical schools of ancient India. Instead, the individual is seen as a temporary collection of five khandhas, or groups of constituent factors. The similie of the chariot is used to explain a human being.38 The khandhas 35. Sutta-Nipata, II. 94-95 36. Visuddhimagga. XXI. 3 37. Sutta-Nipata, IV. 197. 38. H.C. Warren, Buddhism in Translations, Cambridge, Mass. Pub. by Harvard University, 1906, p. 251: Stcherbatsky, Soul Theory of the Buddhists, p. 836.

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64 JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 themselves are not enduring, but are series of momentary events. While there is a flux of constantly changing factors in any given individual there is also a continuity in the proecss, sufficient to give the appearance, both at physical and psychological levels of that individual. It is this continuity that helps one to give names and terms to individuals and things. What we mean by substance (including a human person) is only name and form there is no chariot except that it is made of parts, no substance apart from its qualities, no matter beyond sense data, and no soul beyond the separate mental data. Buddha says that these are worldly usages, worldly language, worldly terms of communication, worldly description by which a Tathagatha communicates without misapprehending them.39 But in the course of Buddhist history the idea of an individual self was re-introduced and affirmed by the pudgalavadins whose views were not accepted as true by other Buddhist schools. What is commonly regarded as a human 'individual' is analysed into 5 khandhas: the first group of factors is rupa (from) i. e., the physical or corporeal and the second group of factors is nama (name) which included the other 4 khandhas, namely sensation or feeling (vedana), perception (samjna), volition or formative principle (samskara) and consciousness (vijnana). Each of these is a group, aggregate or bundle of elements of that type which are continually in flux. The whole process constituted by the 5 groups is the human individual at any given moment of his/her life history. The ultimate elements of psycho-physical existence are the dhammas.40 These are the atoms of which the khandhas are groups or aggregates. The dhammas are of momentary existence only. They are thus as it where flashes of reality. They co-operate among themselves according to the laws of causation.41 The analogy of the light buring through the night is used to explain how elements of being join one another in serial succession.42 The motivating or the generating 'forces' that operate in each Dhamma, whether material 39. Digha-Nikaya, I. 195f. 40. The shortest statement of the essence and spirit of Buddhism is declared in the Mahavagga Buddha discovered the elements (dhamma) of existence, their causal connexion, and a method to suppress their efficiency for ever (Nirodha) (Mahavagga, i. 23 as quoted by Stcherbatsky, Central conception of Buddhism and the meaning of the word Dharma, Prize publication Jund, Vol. VII of the Royal Asiatic Society, London, 1923, p.3). 41. H.C. Warren, op.cit. p. 166. This is known as the middle-doctrine between 'that things have being!' and 'that things have no being'. 42. ibid., p. 149.

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SEKHAR : THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST 65 or mental, primarily account for the 'movement' in the potential as well as in the actual stage, although the dhammas themselves do not move nor mix with one another. The appearance of each dhamma in a constant flow bears the resultant characteristics of all the previous dhammas. Their effect becomes the seed for future dhammas with their resultant forces. This is being supported by the Buddhist doctrine of Dependent Origination (Paticca-samuppada)43 which explains physical and psychical phenomena as conditioned (law of causation) by antecedent physical and pshychical factors, and the whole of existence (including human existence) is shown to be an uninterrupted flux of phenomena. This doctrine implicity rejects any idea of permanently isting entity or ego, human or animal/vegetable kingdom. Samyutta-Nikaya44 expounds the 12 link formula: Take, for instance, in the case of a human person old age and death (janama marana) are due to antecedent rebirth (jati) ; rebirth is due to antecedent process of becoming (bhava) ; becoming is due to clinging to life (upadana); clinging is due to craving (tanha), craving is due to feeling (vedana), feeling is due to sense-impression (phassa), senseimpression is due to the six bases of sense ayatana), the six bases are due to corporeality (nama-rupa), corporeality is due to consciousness (vinnana) ; consciousness is due to karma-formation (sankhara); and karma-formation is due to ignorance (avijja). In all these stages dhammas experience 'unrest' due to ignorance. 45 These 12 factors may have their logical links to one another, but 'craving' is considered the root cause of all suffering in mortal existence. Craving is closely linked, in Buddhist analysis, with Ignorance (Avija) and Karma, as forces which perpetuate sorrowful 43. The understanding that the ultimate constituent of existence (dhamma) has no substance, that it is evanescent, that it is a beginningless state of commotion and unrest, that it can be brought to rest only in the complete supression etc. gives the real meaning of Dukkha H.C., Warren, op.cit., p. 84, 86) Through the Doctrine of Dependent Origination the Blessed one enunciates how dependency or the conditioning in the total unrest of elements is misery (ibid., pp. 368-369). 44. Sutta-Nipata, II.7. 45. ibid. pp. 266-267. This unrest or agitation is beautifully portrayed in the verse : 'while eagerly man calls life's flowers, with all his faculties intent, of pleasure still insatiate - death comes and overpowereth him. The Tathagatha exclaims, 'when will men ever get freed from misery!' The final liberation is the suppression of all dhammas, an Absolute Calm.

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66 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 existence, i. e. continued cycle of births and deaths. 46 Hence in Buddha's first sermon47 it is proclaimed that craving must be got rid of, if nibbana or enlightement is to be attained. Buddhist ethics relate the characteristic condition of humanity (suffering, unease, ill etc. caused by the basic evil of desire) to the recognized goal of Buddhist ethics thus favours those attitudes and kinds of behaviours which help humanity towards ultimate goal of transcendental enlightenment. Such' attitudes and behaviours are set in the 8-fold path (atthangika - magga), a schematic description of the Buddhist life. Earlier texts 48 give a three fold scheme of life namely, wisdom (samadhiprajna or panna),49 Morality (sila) and concentration or meditation50 (samadhi) : "great is the fruit, great the advantage, of meditation, when surrounded by morality; great the advantage, great the fruit of wisdom, when surrounded by meditation". Each of these aspects are sub-divided : the initial faith which ultimately becomes wisdom, into right understanding and right thought ; morality into right speech, right bodily action and right livelihood ; meditation into right (spiritual) effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. The outcome of practice of this 8-fold way is held to be the attainment of right mental attitudes become direct and immediate, where formerly they were based on faith (saddha) i. e. understanding the world and human existence in tems of the 4 Noble Truths derived from Buddha. Thus the tiniest state of enlightenment. This state of enlightenment, called Nirvana, litierally means 'blowing off. It refers to blowing off passions or defilements i. e., morally defiling passions such as greed etc. CONCLUSION Both Jaina as well as Buddhist traditions speak about the growth 46. Emotions are the principal condition for Karman. It is by the dominating influence of emotions that karman is able to present a newfile. Emotions are the root of the fact of continued existence. Where emotions are exhausted, the world ceases to exist. 47. Sutta-Nipata, V. 48. Like Sutta-Nipata and Mahaparinibbana-Sutta I. 12. 49. The unrest of dhammas are resolved through prajna or wisdom. An ordinary man and a saint are two representatives of two distinct combinations of dhammas, the former of Avidya and the latter of Prajna. The knowledge and the discernment of dhammas in their nature and characteristics lead the worldlings to Final Liberation. 50. Atthasalini, III. 282 defines concentration as 'absence of distraction' (avisahara). 'non-confusedness' (avikkhepa) and 'non-dividedness' (avisahatamanasata) because concentration scatters and reverses the

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SEKHAR : THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST 67 of human persons more in a soteriological and religious sense, namely, a growth towards Moksa or Enlightenment. An ordinary human being grows into a 'super man' who is severally described as the wise, the enlightened, the sage, the learned, the noble etc. His/her relation to the world and his/her duty and responsibility towards society are spoken about more in a 'practical' sense (vyavahara naya) than in a 'real' sense (niscaya naya). But none of these founders have neglected to seek about the human person as a social being. Bigalovada-Butta, known as the 'gihivinaya' or the Buddhist householder's discipline, enjions Bigala, a young householder of Rajagrha, with a better form of devotion : social duties towards the six directions - parents, teachers, wife and children, friends, working-people or servants and religious teachers. The missionary zeal in both these religious traditions following the foot steps of their Founders, their contribution to literature, art and architecture, their involvement in society through a variety of service structures, business etc. challenge the age-old views on their life-negating philosophy. But we cannot at the same time deny that both these religions belong to a 'renouncer' tradition. Both encourage renunciation of money, things, cattle, even wife and children and call for a mendicant way of life51 Both these religions believe that it is this form of life that is much suited and easier to attain their religious ideal. It is only on the basis of this religious ideal that people are differentiated and not on the basis of birth or status in society (in contrast to Vedic/ Brahmanic traditions). An arya (noble) is the one who has proved (avisahatamanasata) because concentration scatters and reverses the agitative and uncertainty processes and leads the whole attitude towards pointedness (Guenther, Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1974, p. 60). And hence supressing the karman process is synonymous with supressing the stream of constant flow of dhammas. This is suggested by conceentration. 51. 'Perceiving the truth from a desire of (a pious) end they choose riligious life' (Acaranga-sutra, 1.5.5.1); 'knowing pleasure and pain in all their variety... a wise man should know that to be the proper moment (for entering religious life) (Acar. Sutra, 1.2.1.5.) etc. Even a casual glance over the pages of the Buddhist as well as Jaina Sutras will sufficiently demonstrate the world's craving for wealth and power : Buddha says, 'I behold the rich in the world, of the goods they eagerly heap riches together and further they go in their pursuit of enjoyment... The princes who rule kingdoms rich in treasure and wealth, turn their greed against one another pondering insatinably to their desires. If these acts thus restlessly swimming in the stream of impermanence carried along with greed and carnal desire, who then can walk on earth in peace?' (Oldenberg, H., Buddha, Calcutta, 1972,

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68 JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX. No. 2. October 1995 himself/hersilf through moral conduct.52 Thus based on this moral conception we find a hierarchy of beings with low or high profile. Such an ideal of moral hierarchy goes hand-in-hand with their understanding of jiva or living being from one-sensed upto six sensed. reprint, Delhi, 1971, 7.64); Mahavira says, 'He who longs for the qualities (by this term, greed and carnal desire is meant), is overcome by great pain, and he is careless. (For he thinks) I have to provide for a mother, for a father, for a sister, for a wife, for sons, for daughters, for a daugterin-law, for my friends, for near and remote relations, for my acquaintances, for different kinds of property, profit, meals and clothes. Longing for these objects people are careless, suffer day and night, work in the right and wrong time, desire wealth and treasures, commit injurious and viloent acts...' (Acaranga-sutra, l. 2.1.1); 'He who owns even a small property in living or lifeless things, or consent to others holding it, will not be delivered from misery' (Sutrakrtanga, I.1.2); In the Dialogue between Sakra (Indra) and sage Nami, as we find in the Uttaradhyayanasutra (IX. 18-62), we have a nice expression of the conflict between the ideals of class society and state power on the one hand and those of the simple undifferentiated life. 52. Both these traditions give different criteria for Brahmanhood. There are five requisites for being regarded as a Brahmana-Varna (ubhato sujato hoti), Jati (avikkitto anupakutto jativadena), Mantra (ajjhayako hoti mantradhero). Sila and Panditya, But what really makes a person Brahmana is conduct and learning (Dhammapada, ch. 26); Uttaradhyayana-sutra(25.31-32) says : One does not become a Aramana by tonsure, nor a Brahmana by the sacred syllable Om, nor a Muni by living in the woods, nor a tapasa by wearing clothes of kusa grass and a bark. One becomes a Aramana by equanimity, a Brahmana by chastity, a Muni by knowledge and a Tapasa by penance.

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NEWS ON JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD Thousands Attend JAINA Convention at Chicago BARTLETT, IL: An International convention of Jains organized as the 8th Biennial conference attracted over 12,000 Jains from all over the world for an extended session June 28-July 2. It was a multidimensional convention devoted to both traditional and contemporary issues and was filled with enlightening addresses and cultural displays. The Federation of Jain Associations in North America's JAINA convention was hosted by the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago and had participants from as far as India and Africa. The convention also coincided with the "Pratishtha Mahotsava," or the ceremony of installation of the 24 Thirthankara statues in the newly built temple. This was the first time the convention for JAINA was being held in the Chicago area since the local society, two years ago, built in Bartlett the largest Jain temple in the nation. The convention's theme was "Peace through Non-Violence." The Jain Center is the only Center where all Jain sects such as Shwetamber, Sthanakvasi, Digamber and Shrimad Rajchandra are under the same roof. Youth participation was an important element and, at regular intermissions, cultural programs like Rasa, Garba and other educational discussions were being held, to promote Jainism, in the younger generations. Items of discussion ranged from "Jainis the 21st century," "Role of youth in Religion," "Vegetarianism, a way of life," and "Communicating with your elders." The organizers had the support of thousands of volunteers who painstakingly provided other avenues for enjoyment. The basement of the temple hosted the first of its kind exhibition stalls from all areas of the United States. Many organizations had displayed items from their areas and the youth chapter of Chicago put together a brilliantly perceptive collage showing the stages of destruction of the world and the solutions for them. Exhibition Chairman Hemendra Momaya told India Post that the youth had done all the artwork and put up the workshops and all the programs. "Just seeing them work and get so involved in our way of life, made me very proud." he said. Masum, one of the many volunteers at the information booth,

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70 JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995 said that she was pleasantly amazed to see so many people from here and overseas, all at one place, exchanging ideas and bonding together. "This definitely makes you very pround of your heritage." Display of booths ranged from books on Jainism and other religions to Videos of functions, details of organizations involved with efforts of upliftment in India and beautiful Jainstavanas or bhajans on cassettes and CDs. Religious ceremonies slated for this event were the three patla puja, Navgraha puja, Bhavana and Abhiseka for the 18 statues. The 24 float procession, consisted of 22 floats of the various statues that were to be installed and the remaining two of the Mahila Mandala and Senior Citizens, presented minute details of Jain religion and culture. Almost 60 families from as far as Northern California, Maryland and Washington D. C. participated in the Ratha Yatra. Meditation, interfaith workshops, Vision 2000 programs, Yoga Pratikramana, Samayak and topics like inter-racial marriage intertwined with the elaborate list of programs hosted in various tents. Present on this auspicious occasion also were spiritual leaders and well-versed scholars from India and around the world like Jinacandraji Maharaja, Gurudev Chitrabhanuji, Bhattaraka Devendrakirtiji, Samani Madhura Prajnaji and Samani Caritra Prajnaji. In his address Chitrabhanuji, who is credited to have brought Jainism into the United States along with the late Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, said that this convention was indeed the venue of two blessed events, Pratistha and the Biennial. "While some parts of the world were engaged with violence and conflict, hatred and resentment, Jains of Chicago were building this monumental Jain temple as a Holy Sanctuary where people from all walks of life can work together and feel the vibrations of peace, amity, creativity, love and unification," he said. A cultural competition was held for the first time at the Convention. According to the organizers, this was to envision even a better understanding of Jainism and to keep the interest growing amongst the younger generation as well as to entertain the gathering. Mihir Shah from Connecticut, who participated in a Rasa competition said: "Many youths see the cultural center as simply a place. To me, in many ways, this is Home." "The energy, vitality and exuberance was evident and it was really invigorating to see the youth involved in every sphere of the proceedings." said Kalpana Pathak from Maryland. Inter-Religious Forum "Peace through Non-Violence" was hosted by Kumud Ranjan Sinha, Consul General of India, along with religious

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NEWS OF JAINISM AROUND THE WORLD leaders like Dr. Balwant Hansra, Sikh Religion Society of Chicago, Rohinton Riventna, Federation of Zoroastrian Centers, Rabbi Hermann Schaalman, Chicago Board of Rabbis and Dr. Irfan AhmadKahn, Interfaith Consultant, Council of Islamic Organizations. Many awards were also presented on this occasion to individuals who had contributed to the awareness and development of Jain centers all over the world. Awards were handed over by Chitrabhanu. "Peaceful Liberators" award went to Hasendra Shah and Virendra Shah of Southern California for successfully staging the biggest Jain art exhibition in Los Angeles, visited by about 50,000 people. "JAINA Ratna," the highest award was presented to Dr. and Mrs. Manoj Dharamsinh. for pioneering the Jain temple in Washington D.C. and for realizing the vision of JAINA. A peace award was instituted in the memory of Acharya Sushil and would be presented to all those who have worked for peace ; people from all castes, creeds and races would be considered eligible for this, Chitrabhanuji said. Jainaratna awards were given to Dr. Naresh Shah, Urmila Tulania and Balu Kuria. Girish shah was presented with the "Adult Swadhyaya" award and the "Presidential Award" was for Dr. Jagat Jain. JAINA was established by Jain Center of Southern California, Los Angeles in 1981. It is the associations of associations and represent Jains said the newly elected president Manibhai Mehta. "This is a very big and auspicious event, said the convention convener Niranjan C. Shah, since it was a great task to bring so many people together at one place. "Jain religion is based on the fundamental concept of non-violence in thought, word and deed". We in the JAINA are committed to carrying out this universal mission, he said. Supriya Bharadwaja India Post, July 14, 1995. 71 In Memory of Late NARENDRA SINGH BAID Mira Baid 83/B Vivekananda Road Calcutta 700 006 Phone 241 0719

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