Jaina Ethics

SR No.: 001334
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 314
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

Page 50

Introduction
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thing at a time and place predetermined by fate. In Astasāhasri, a verse is quoted which says that our intellect, effort, and helpers turn the same way as our destiny.
Now, if we accept so in absolute sense, then all moral teachings become futile. It is no use telling a person what he should or should not do, if he has no freedom of choice. The dangers of determinism are evident. It may paralyze all our efforts. It may make us immoral. Therefore, generally the Acāryas speak about determinism with great caution. They generally praise human efforts and avoid referring to determinism. But all the same truth has to be faced. The theory of omniscience and the theory of karman do favour determinism in a certain sense. But they need neither paralyze our effort nor make us immoral. Let us explain it.
Kundakunda says that all of us have two-fold consciousness (i) knowledge-consciousness (iñānacetanā) (ii) Action- ! consciousness (karmacetanā).3 Knowledge consciousness means the state of absolute freedom from the sense of being an agent of an action (kartstvabhāvanā): In this state of knowledgeconsciousness, the soul remains absorbed in its pure intrinsic, blissful, conscious state. It has no desire or initiative for action. This is a state of supra-moral plane of life which is beyond good and bad both. This is not a state of inertia but a state of sense of fulfilment of the purpose of life. This is the ultimate end of life. Determinism paralyzes not only the good activities but bad activities also and what remains is the pure consciousness of blissful nature of the self. This is spoken of
;. 1. TEETHOL Tarta Targatsa ar i
तत्प्राप्यते तदा तेन तत्र तावत्ततो ध्र वम् ॥
-Padmapurāna, Kashi, 1959, 29.83. 2. तादृशी जायते बुद्धिर्व्यवसायश्च तादृशः। __ सहायास्तादृशाः सन्ति यादृशी भवितव्यता ॥
-Quoted by Sūri, Vidyānandi, on Äptamīmāṁsā, Rajnagar,
Vik. Sam. 1993, 5. 3. परिणमदि चेदणाए आदा पुण चेदणा तिघाभिमदा । सा पुण णाणे कम्मे फलम्मि वा कम्मणो भणिदा॥
---Prapacanasära, 2.31.