Gems of Jainism

SR No.: 001803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 142
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Articles, & Religion
File Size: 8 MB

Page 28

Jain Theism
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sincerity and unshakable faith in dealing with Karma through penance and austerities, has no place for God's grace or God as the dispenser of fruits of deeds. Jainism maintains that every soul in its pure form is God, having all the four Infinities: Infinite Knowledge, Infinite perception, Infinite Strength and Infinite Bliss.
Thus the emphasis not on God or God's grace but on spiritual development of soul, lifting it to a higher and higher level and thus attaining Godhood has also led many to consider Jainism as Atheism. Jain Theism;
1. The God of the Jainas. 2. Theistic colours in Jaina Philosophy. 3. References and citations.
In the ancient period different phenomena of nature were considered to be the working of different Gods and Godesses. “In the ancient times there was not rain but rainer, not thunder but a thunderer, and in that way personality is attributed, or leaving that consciousness and character, to those forces. There may be conscious entities in these forces as there may be living entities on a planets, but these forces themselves are not living entities. The Jainas discard this idea so far as the Godhead or Godlike character is concerned.” In fact, with the development of science and with the better understanding of the science, these phenomena become simple and the idea of these beings as character of the highest spiritual power goes away. Actually, so far I have only told what God of the Jainas is not, what is important is to tell you what is the God of the Jainas. Jainism believes in soul. It believes that : "the- soul exists; it is eternal; it is the agent of all actions; it enjoys the Fruits of actions; the embodied soul's liberation is possible; the means of liberation is also available."13
According to Jainism the emboided soul is a soul in bondage. The bondage is due to Karma. "The soul that is polluted and is having a veil of Karma on it due to subreption, passions etc."14 The soul in bondage is in the state of dependence - the complete dependence of the soul is its lowest stage while the complete