Page Text
________________
168 RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS the Deity, the Teacher and the Dharma, he naturally makes a vow that he will not fall into these transgressions or waverings from such convictions.
Also it follows that anyone having these convictions will test and criticise any person claiming to be a Deity, or a Teacher, and if any of the 18 or the 5 characteristics, above mentioned, are found wanting, he will reject such person as not being fully to be relied upon. This applies also to the clergy and other persons claiming to be spiritual teachers.
It is stated that the last Arhat was Mahävira whom history describes as possessed of the 18 characteristics mentioned. It is in the history of the Jaina people that this is to be found.
All the liberated or perfected living beings have become so by reason of their own efforts, in an evolution from the nigoda state, Five Signs of Samyaktva
The following are five signs or characteristics of samyaktva, and from them we may know by our own inner thoughts what our attitude is towards the universe in which we find ourselves, and whether or not we are in the state of samyaktva. They are internal signs, so that each can test himself.
1. Upasama. It is a mental state when the strong intoxicating karmas or the kasāyas like anger, greed, etc., are suppressed or controlled. And the suppression has taken place either naturally, because the karma is exhausted, or else by thinking on the matter and realizing that after all by being engrossed in the worst anger, greed, etc. we fall to such a depth that it takes a long time to come up again. If the suppression comes naturally, it is because the person has done the work before.
2. Samvega. It is a desire to reach the state of liberation.
3. Nirveda. It is a recognition that this continual going on from incarnation to incarnation is not the right state of life; you look upon this or any embodied state as a misery and one to get away from. There is always the pain of birth and death.
4. Anukampā. It is compassion for those who are suffering from any kind of misery. If the misery is due to their own
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 001190 |
| Book Title | Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Virchand R Gandhi |
| Publisher | Jain International Ahmedabad |
| Publication Year | 1993 |
| Total Pages | 266 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Philosophy, Ethics, & Principle |
| File Size | 13 MB |