Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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action), and sușira (produced by wind instruments). Natural sounds include thunder and other naturally produced sounds.
Modern science also divides sound into two categories - 1. noises and 2. musical sounds. Of these noise is included in vaisrasika category. The musical sounds has four methods of producing - 1. vibration of strings, 2. vibration of membranes, 3. vibration of rods and plates, and 4. vibration of air columns. All these are included in the aforesaid four categories of instrumental sounds.
Thus the material nature of sound has also been proved by science. This shows that moderns science confirms the Jain doctrines of karma, bonded structure of matter, space entity, time entity, etc. This means that Jain religion is a scientific religion.
YOGA AND JAINISM
In Indian philosophies the term yoga has been used in various different meanings. In Jain scriptures the association of activities of mind, speech and body is called yoga. In Yoga philosophy the disciplining of the activities and attitudes of mind is said to be yoga. In Gītā yoga means equanimity and includes knowledge, devotion, and action. Although in the ancient literature yoga has not been used in its spiritual meaning, due to popularity of Yoga philosophy this term is also popularly used in the spiritual meaning. In Yoga philosophy yoga means disciplining or curbing desires. It appears that the popularity of this interpretation of Yoga philosophy influenced some Śwetāmbara ācāryas and they wrote books using this interpretation of the term. Yogaśāstra of Hemacandracārya, Yogadrsti Samuccaya, Yogabindu and Yogaśāstra of Haribhadrasūri are some such works.
In Yogaśāstra the consequence of yoga is said to be stabilization within the self and this state is believed to be Kaivalya (state of liberation). For this meaning of yoga the Jain scriptures use the word dhyāna (meditation), the Buddhists use samādhi (profound meditation), and Vedic philosophies use tapa (austerities) and yoga. In all these religions and philosophies all these terms have been used in their spiritual meaning and they are related to nirvana or liberation. Buddhist philosophy postulates eight-fold path. They have given special importance to samādhi through which nirvana is attained. They have
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