Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 006901
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: World Jain Confederation
Publication Year: 2009
Total Pages: 298
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 5 MB

Page 126

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Symbolism animal life which is lower than the human life, then evolves to the third stage, the human life. Then the fourth stage, the celestial. I use the word celestial, to mean the life or other worlds than our own. All these graduations are combinations on different scales of matter and soul.
The spiritual plane is that in which the soul is entirely freed from the bonds of matter. In order to reach that plane you must strive to possess the three jewels (the circles) right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct. When you get these you are on the right path. Otherwise, there is no settled course for you, you are, as it were, tossed indiscriminately in a large river and do not know where you are going. If you have possession of the jewels your basis is sure. When you have these three things, right belief, right knowledge, right conduct, you will certainly go upwards higher and higher until you reach the state of liberation. That we represent by the crescent. Why? Because the crescent is the first form of the rising moon, it is the representation of a form which is going to grow larger and larger.
When the soul has reached this stage it is omniscient. When it has reached its full consciousness its horizon becomes larger and larger. The interpretation, according to the Jaina view of the cross has nothing to do with the combination of the male and female principle. Worship of the male and female principles - ideas based on sex lowest even on the emotional plane can never raise us higher than the male and the female.
We go to the temple every day in the morning; we make such symbols (Swastika) when we enter the temple. The object of doing this is that this sign must remind us of the great principle that in order to avoid the round of mundane existence one must have the three jewels and then reach the ultimate good. These symbols intensify our thoughts and make them more permanent.