Some Jain Concepts and Conduct

SR No.: 001417
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sushma Singhvi
Publisher: B J Institute
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 76
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, Achar, Spiritual, C000, & C005
File Size: 5 MB

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(Some Jain Concepts and Conduct
suddenly God became creator at a particular time? It also questions kindness of God, when creation is full of misery and suffering.
Kumāril Bhatta opined that there could be no creator of this universe.26 Even Nyāya and Vaiseșika, according to new researches, were originally atheistic.27 Jaina view about God is different from the above systems. Jain philosophy is of the view that there is no supreme entity like God, who is creator of this universe. All souls are fundamentally independent and all the substances in this universe are independent of any external agency in their functioning and do not obey any superior power. Of what use is the inherent quality of a substance if it works only under God's supervision ? "If fire burns and water cools, it is not due to the will of God, it is due to their inherent qualities which were bestowed on these substance by God” is also an impossibility. Can we imagine these substances bereft of their qualitites at any time ? No, therefore, this physical world is ruled by physical law and not by any divine law. This, however, does not mean that there is no God in Jainism. God is only the highest, noblest, fullest manifestation of the powers which otherwise lie latent in souls of living beings. There is no eternal God sitting upon judgement on human beings. Human souls themselves attain siddhahood or omniscience - omnipresence by shedding off all impurities. These free souls neither create nor destroy anything. They have conquered passions, anger, pride, deceit and greed, and do not take birth for any reason. They do not get pleased or angry and can not return or reward our prayers. This does not mean that prayers have no place in Jain Scheme of life. By meditating upon the attributes of Siddhas we try to awaken our latent potentialities of Godhood.
A detailed study of Jiva will belp us to understand the concept of Atman.
Jiva and Ātman : Jiva is characterized by its various