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 283

Metaphysics, Ethics and Spiritual Development
255 Scriptures (Šāstra) It is necessary to know that scriptures are originated from experience. They do not generate the experience directly. After proper study of the preachings contained in them, when man desirous of spiritual welfare and liberation takes to the path of internal yogic practice and makes considerable progress on that path, then and then only he gains such experience as could not be gained from the mere study of scriptures. From this experience are created the sacred scriptures that serve as guiding light to the entire world. Thus the place of experience is higher than that of scriptures. Experience is superior to scriptures.
In the world we find so many diverse streams of thought flowing from scriptures. All the sages who composed them were not on the same plane of spiritual development. Their internal purity and equanimity were not of the same degree. How strong and how numerous the differences of opinion among the great teachers, the repositories of spiritual learning, are! Unable to keep the balance of mind or impartiality about their own view, they display obstinacy and are seen possessed with passions and subdued by infatuation. In most of the scriptures, we find their sageauthors or preceptor-authors refuting the views of their opponents and establishing their own views with vehemence and passion. They are full of attacks and counter-attacks. Being puzzled by the frightful whirlwind of attacks and counter-attacks, a Gujarātī saint-poet Akho Bhagat spontaneously utters: 'akho kahe e amdhāro kūvo, jhaghado cukāvi koi na muo.' (Akho tells that this is a dark deep well; none has settled the quarrel or dispute before death).
The purport is that man should not be a blind devotee of scriptures under the influence of infatuation. He should move in the garden of scriptures, keeping the lamp of reason and wisdom with him. Therein lies his happiness and peace. A wise and understanding person should drink water of scriptural teaching after having filtered or purified it with a filtercloth of his own calm and composed intellect. Revered saint Haribhadrācārya has also advised us to this effect. We have to become brave and fearless divers to collect pearls from the bottom of the sea of scriptures. We are to use scriptures as a means to cross the ocean of transmigratory cycle. We are not to transform any scripture into a well to drown ourselves to death. Holy, supremely divine scriptures contain the invaluable treasures of knowledge and pure thoughts. But they have come down to us after having passed through innumerable tempests