Jain Theism

SR No.: 006509
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Hemant Shah
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 218
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 10 MB

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Jain Theism This fine matter which can become Karman, fills the entire cosmos.'*85
Before we say about the process of material bondage or karmabandh let us say about the Jain concepttion of Jiva or Soul. Jainism believes the soul to be a substance, of course, distinguished from the other types of substances. Besides, there are innumerable souls who are totally independent from one another and in no way connected to a higher reality or higher unity like Brahman in Vedānta. Jiva or soul being a substance (dravya) possesses infinite qualities (guna) Out of which the main eight are
(i) Omniscience (Kevala Jñāna) (ii) Absolute undifferentiated congnition (kevaladarśana) (iii) Bliss or Superiority over joy & grief (avyābadha) (iv) Religious truth and moral conduct (Samyaktva and Căritra) (v) Eternal life (Aksayasthiti) (vi) Complete formlessness (Amurtatva) (vii) Complete equality with other Jivs (Samyaka Drsti) (viii) Unrestricted energy (Virya)
According to Jainism all the above mentioned qualities belong by nature to every soul. Thus the soul is potentially pure and perfect. In the world we find all Jivas having restricted of capacities; full of pain and suffering instead of pleasures and bliss; having incomplete knowledge. immoral conduct; embodied in form of an insect, bird, animal or human; weak and sick instead of infinitely energetic. The question as to how it happens is answered by Jainism through its theory of Karma. "The idea of the pollution of the soul due to Karma has been largely allegorical in other religious philosophies in India, while the Jains have adopted it in the real sense of the word and have worked out into an original system.''86 Now the soul, from pure and ultimate point of view is pure and perfect. It is simple and without parts, it is immaterial and formless.'*$? It is pure consciousness. But then from phenomenal point of view, the soul is infected with four-fold passions, namely:
wrong belief (Mithya Darśana)
85. Dr. Glasenapp : The Doctrine of Karma in Jain philosophy (1942), P.3 86. Dr. Glasenapp : The Doctrine of Karma in Jain philosophy (1942), p. 15 87. D.S. 2