Agam 01 Ang 01 Acharang Sutra Aayaro Terapanth

SR No.: 006521
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 472
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & agam_acharang
File Size: 17 MB

Page 61

ĀYARO
24
30.
Appege sampamārae, appege uddavae.
30. Man (experiences pain) when forced into unconscious
ness or when deprived of life. (So do the beings of earth-body).
ANNOTATIONS 28-30: Once a disciple asked Bhagavān Mahavira--O Venerable One! the beings of earth-body can neither see, nor speak, nor hear, nor move about. Then, how can one ascertain that it has life and it experiences pain on being struck or cut with some weapon?
Bhagavân Mahăvira replied - O disciple! suppose that there is a man, who is blind, deaf, dumb, and crippled since his birth. Moreover, he is completely limbless-just a ball of flesh like the son of queen Mrgā(vide, the Vipäka Sutra). Now, suppose that someone strikes or cuts him with weapon. The poor fellow, being blind etc. can neither see, nor hear, nor speak, nor move about. In the absence of vision, audition, speech, and locomotion, will it be right to say that the fellow is devoid of life and that he does not experience any pain on being struck or cut?
Bhagavān Mahávira further said. And again suppose that there is a man with normal physique. Some other men equipped with various sorts of weapons attack him cutting and severing simultaneously all the thirty two anatomical features of his body (enumerated in the 29th aphorism). Now, the man becomes blind, deaf, dumb and crippled. He can no more see, hear, speak or move about. Would it mean that he has no life? Would he not feel severe but inexpressible pain?
The disciple replied - Yes, Bhagavan! it is true that the man would feel the pain. But, my doubt is yet not resolved. For, there is a world of difference in the wounded man and beings of earth-body. Despite his inability to express his pain, the respiratory movements in the man are clearly visible, whereas they are absent in the said earthlives.
Bhagavān Mahāvira said-It is not so, my disciple. The process of respiration is present in the beings body too, but it is not perceptible. Like a man in a swoon, the beings of earth-body do not manifest consciousness.