Jaina Mysticism and Other Essays

SR No.: 006933
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 166
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 11

one when the self is overwhelmed by Mithyādarśana. It obstructs all our mystical endeavours. Thus the plight of the self in Mithyātva Guņasthāna resembles that of a totally eclipsed moon or a completely clouded sky. It is a state of spiritual slumber with the peculiarity that the self itself is not cognisant of its drowsy state. Led astray by the perverted attitude, the soul staying in this Guņasthāna identifies itself with bodily colour, physical frame, sex, caste, creed, family, friends and wealth23. The consequence is that it is constantly obsessed with the fear of self-annihilation on the annihilation of the body and the like24 and is tormented even by the thought of death25. Besides, it is the victim of the seven kinds of fear26 and the eight kinds of pride27. Again under the influence of Mithyādarśana “One accepts the Adharma (wrong religion) as the Dharma (right religion), the Amārga (wrong path) as the Mārga (right path), the. Ajīva (non-soul) as the Jiva (soul), the Asādhu (non-saint) as the Sūdhu (saint), the Amukta (unemancipated) as the Mukta (emancipated) and vice versa28. ” Kundakunda29 and following him Yogindu, Pujyapāda, śubhacandra, Kārttikeya etc. recognise this Mithyātva Gunasthāna as the state of Bahirātman. In this Gunasthāna there are such souls as will never triumph over this darkest period and hence will never win salvation. They are technically called Abhavyas. 30 Haribhadra aptly calls them Bhavābhinandis (welcomers of transmigratory existence31). In contrast to these souls, there are, according to Haribhadra, Apunarbandhakas who are also occupying this Gunasthāna32. The difference is that the latter are moving in the direction of becoming Samyagdsstis and consequently do not commit sinful acts with much strong inclination, do not attach undue value to the worldly life and maintain proprieties in whatever they do33; whereas the former are Mithyādsstis proper, and consequently they are mistaken as to the nature of things, evince no disgust for worldly existence and are like the man to whom unworthy acts appear worthy of performance34. The Apunarbandhakas may be further said to have developed first four Yogadrstis, namely, Mitrā, Tārā, Balā, and Diprā. It may be noted here that the spiritual darkness of the Apunarbandhakas is not so intense as that of the Bhavābhinandīs.
Jaina Mysticism and other essays