Jaina Philosophy and Religion

SR No.: 001604
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nyayavijay
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 500
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Epistemology
File Size: 12 MB

Page 111

Jaina Path of Purification (Liberation)
ness mainly aims at weakening delusion and attachment and its entire teaching flows towards that goal with full force.
Renunciation of obstinacy, freedom from hatred and prejudice, love for listening to truth, liking for the company of saintly persons, their service, listening to truth, predilection for spiritual welfare, removal of wrong faith or inclination, acquisition of right faith or inclination, destruction of passions, viz., anger, pride, deceit and greed, restraint of sense-organs, purity of mind, abandonment of feeling of mineness (attachment), manifestation of equanimity, placidity and calmness of mind, absorption in the pure nature of soul, continuous stream of meditation, manifestation of trance, destruction of the veils of delusion, etc., and at last the attainment of omniscience and liberation—all these which present the gradual spiritual evolution from the initial stage to the final accomplishment according to their order of enumeration are extensively dealt with in the spiritual science.
Terms 'adhyātma' and 'yoga' ultimately mean the same thing. The term yoga' is derived from the verbal root 'yuj' meaning 'to join'. The spiritually beneficial religious practice or the spiritual discipline meant for the attainment of liberation is called yoga, because it joins the soul with liberation. It is adhyātma, that is, spiritual discipline, spiritual living.
Delusion is the acute spiritual disease. The beginningless stream of karmic bondage and the beginningless wanderings in the worldly existence are due to it. It manifests itself in the forms of anger, pride, deceit and greed. The spiritual means to be employed against them are as follows. Anger is destroyed by forgiveness, pride by humility, deceit by straightforwardness and greed by contentedness. The victory over passions depends on the victory over sense-organs. And control over senseorgans is achieved through purifying mind. Mind becomes purel when the defilements of attachment and aversion are removed. Their removal is effected by the water of equanimity. Equanimity manifests itself when feeling of mineness is renounced. And to renounce it, one should cultivate deep reflections on transitoriness, helplessness, etc. With the growth of strength of the reflections, the darkness of the feeling of mineness is
1. asamsayam mahābāho! mano durnigraham calam/ abhyasena ca Kaunteya! vairāgyena ca gyhyatel/
-Bhagavadgita VI. 35 O Strong-armed, the restless mind is certainly difficult to curb, but it can be controlled, O Son of Kunti (Arjuna), by constant practice and non-attachment.