Concept of Divinity in Jainism

SR No.: 001637
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P Ajay Kothari
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 248
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Devotion
File Size: 15 MB

Page 66

ful.”, is the dictum quite often pronounced in Buddhist scriptures.22 Buddhism, in accordance with its theory of momentariness, does not believe in anything permanent. Nothing endures for more than a moment. Everything is changing and therefore, there is no question of there being a permanent soul (Atta) in man.23 Man is a Sanghata (aggregate) of Pancupadanakkhand, viz., Rupa (matter), Vedana (sensation or feeling), Samjna (perception), Samskara (disposition) and Vijnana (consciousness). Everything constituting human personality (Man) and things existing in the phenomenal world, are to be identified as 'anatta', to identify the self with anything, that is transient, yields only a bitter fruit of suffering 24 Thus, Pancupadinakkhand, five groups of grasping, also constitute suffering.25 Suffering is impediment to divinity. Second Noble Truth - Cause of Suffering
The origin of suffering lies in Tanha (craving), which is potent for rebirth, accompanied by lust and self-indulgence seeking satisfaction everywhere in this world. A mortal has three kinds of craving, viz., a) the craving for sensual pleasures(Kamatanha); b) the craving for becoming (Bhavatanha), and c) the craving for becoming (Vibhavatanha).26 Tanha initiates activities resulting in accumulation of kamma that instigates the process of samsara. According to Humphreys, desire is the cause of sufferings.27 Gautama, the Buddha during his discourse to his disciple Ananda, as described in the Mahanidana-Sutta, explains to him the way the world-process or samsara is linked up with twelve nidanas (links) and consequently marked out as Dvadasangapaticcasamuppada-naya and generally referred to as the doctrine of Dependent Origination.28 The twelve linked chain (Dvadasanidana)”' is as follows :
1. Disease, old age, death (jara-marana) depends on - 2. Birth rebirth (jati) depends on - 3. Becoming or will to be born (bhava) depends on -
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM