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 94

GRADATION OF SOULS AND STAGES OF OMNISCIENCE 81
Samantabhadra adopts non-absolutistic attitudes in his treatment of the question of self and its relation to body. How. ever, the distinction between the empirical and the spiritual self is based on the distinction between what man actually is and what he may become.50 But this should also be noted that the Jaina theory of soul applies not only to man but to any form of life including animals, birds, insects, plants, devils, angels, etc.
The empirical self is the soul in wordly bondage due to karmas. Therefore this state is said to be impure. The empirical self is agent, enjoyer, limited to the extent of body, resident of this world, undergoes change, admits of plurality, owes material karmas and last but not the least is conscious.31
Jaina thinkers have made great efforts to classify souls in several ways.32 One is struck at their patience for endless classifications, division and enumeration, which exhibit their scientific attitude, though quite naturally out of tune with
29 Samantabhandra, Yukt yanusasana, ed. Jugala Kishore Mukhtara
(Sarsāwā, Vira Sevā Mandir, !951), 10, See his criticisms of the
Buddhist position, 11, 17. 30 H. Warren, Jainism (Ārrāh, Central Jaina Publishing House, 1916
2nd Ed.,), Ch. III "Man As He Actually is" and Ch. IV "Man As
He May Be." 31 Dravyasangraha, 2, Pancastikayasara 27, 28; Tattvartha Sutra, 11.10
53; Tattvartha Rā pavārtika, pp. 124-158; Sarvärtha Siddhi., pp. 164202; Tattvartha Vrtti, pp. 86-110; Tattvārtha Ślokavārtika, pp. 311-344;
Gommața Sara (Jivā Kānda), 70-117. 32 Gommatasära (Jiva Kānda) gives many classifications having 14, (Gatha
72), 57 (Gatha 73), 570 in 19 varities (Gathas 75-78), 98 (Gathas 80) varities of Soul-classes (Jiva Samāsa). Great pains have also been taken to ascertain the bodily sizes of a soul (Gathās 94-101), Kinds of births and their nuclie going to 84 lacs (Gathās 81-93) and total kinds of bodily materials of all bodied souls reaching to one Koda Kodi (i.e. one hundred million, 10 m. * 10 m.) ninety seven lacs,
and fifty thousand crores (Gatha 117). JCO-11