Jaina Concept of Omniscience

SR No.: 001547
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramjee Singh
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 258
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Knowledge
File Size: 17 MB

Page 103

90 GRADATION OF SOULS AND STAGES OF OMNISCIENCE
will realise itself as the interral self which is separate and
distirct from the body, is of the nature of knowledge and well-established in perfect tranquility. 88 It is truly spiritual self, who 85 has no lust for material enjoyment84 and is the way to liberation.85 Rāja Malla, further, subdivides this internal self into three types - superior, inferior and in between the two. 86 Atman though dwelling in the body is absolutely different from the body. It is not even a miniature of any universal self as is held by some of the Upanişads. Rather, the Jīva, according to Jainism, retains its separateness even in immortality. In the Vedānta, the Atman and Brahman are the two aspects of the same reality; in Jainism, spirit and superspirit are the two stages of the same entity, but spirit and world remain two different things, whereas in the Vedānta, the soul, God and the world all are one. Hence, as the description of a city does not constitute that of its rular, the adoration of its body is not the adoration of the omniscient lord. 87 The antarātman or spirit becomes the super-spirit (Paramātman) when it knows itself, exists in knowledge, and is free from Karmas. 88 He after subjugating the senses, realises that the self is of the nature of real knowledge, is called a conqueror. 8 9 This is the state of embodied (Arhat) or disembodied (Siddha) Paramātman, and the Arhat is free from birth, old age, death 9 0 and other obstructions, is independent of the senses, unparalleled, liberated and free from rebirth. He is eternal, nontranscient and independent.91 He is Siddha, pure, omniscient
82 Yogīndu, Paramatma Prakāśa, 1, 14. 83 Pūjyapāda, Ibid., 27, 30; Mokşa Pahuda 5 (Kundakunda). 84 Pujyapāda, Ibid., 17. 85 Pujyapāda, Ibid., 15, 37. 86 Rāja Malla, Adhyatma-Kemala-Martanda, III, 12 (Notes). 87 Kundakunda, Sama yasāra, 30. 88 Yogindu, Ibid., 15. 89 Kundakunda, Ibid., 31. 90 Kundakunda, Ni yamasara, 176,
91 Ibid., 177