Jains Through Time

SR No.: 006591
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan
Total Pages: 282
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 117

The Jains through Time
118
establishes the existence of godhead on the imagining on the part of the Acharya - it is basis of an actual experience of the truth. firmly based in the Jain Agamas. Even the The preacher of true scripture never voice of Tirthankar Mahavir comes to us imparts knowledge borrowed from others. clearly through the Agamas: A scripture is Such knowledge does not encompass the that which awakens the soul and leads it to welfare of all. His benevolent teachings an active involvement in the performance of spring from the flow of pure knowledge tapa, kshama, and ahimsa. which wells up from within and comes directly from a pure soul. The principle The third chapter of the Uttaradhyayantheme of a seer's teachings is to eliminate Sutra, which is considered to be the final the impurities of the soul and reveal its light message from Tirthankar Mahavir, states that in the form of infinite knowledge and there are four things which are most rare infinite vision.
and extremely difficult to attain: mānusattam
sui saddhā sanjamammi ya viriyam 10 - 'human When that great scriptural expert of the Jain birth, truly listening to the scriptures, faith, tradition, Acharya Jinabhadra Gani and a conscious working towards selfKshamashraman, was asked what works control'. Later on in the text, the definition could be called scriptures, he said, 'That of scripture is given as: jam söccā pačivajjanti through which knowledge of the real truth tavam khantimahimsayam 1 - 'scripture is that is perceived, which disciplines and which disciplines the aspirant's mind and enlightens the soul, should be called awakens in him a feeling for practicing tapa'. scripture. The word shastra (scripture) in It results in controlling the impetus of Sanskrit is derived from the root word shas, wildly scattered untamed desires. The which means to govern, instructor control of these desires paves the way for enlighten. So shastra implies an essence of abstinence and lends momentum to the reality that educates, governs and enlightens journey along the path of forgiveness. the soul. This definition is not some kind of
* Sāsijae tena tahin va neyamayavato sattam. Visheshamshyak Bhashya, Gatha 1384 " Uranadharyan-Satna, 3/1 " Handhyayan-Swt, 3/8