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

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According to the Jinist, three things are the good i.e. intrinsically good - Ahimsā of all living beings, virtuous disposition and action and the appreciation of the virtuous and knowledge. There may be other things which are good, but they can, on analysis, be shown to be the combination of two or more of the above goods. For example, Vātsalya (mutual love), which is the good, is a combination of virtuous disposition with knowledge and the emotion of love. Aesthetic enjoyment which is again the good is a combination of happiness with the knowledge of the art object. Thus Jaina ethics upholds the doctrine of value pluralism; and this theory of the good or intrinsic goodness may be styled Ahirsāutilitarianism, by which all the goods represented by Jaina ethics can stand the test of Ahimsā in the comprehensive sense.
SECTION (3) (Meta-ethical Trends in Jaina ethics)
In Jaina terminology the questions which meta-ethics is concerned will reduce themselves to the following : (i) What is the meaning or definition of the terms of like Subha and Aśubha? (ii) What is the nature of judgements in which these terms are used? (iii) How can such judgements be justified and supported?
The first question that confronts us is : What is good or Subha ? According to Jaina ethics ‘Subha' is an experience in tune with Ahimsā, aš has been discussed in section-2. The ingredients of this experience (which is complex but unified) are emotions, and knowledge issuing in end-seeking action. Satisfaction on the fulfilment of ends is the accompaniment of the experience. The implication of the definition of 'Subha' or 'good' is that goodness does not belong to things in complete isolation from feeling; à thing is good, because it gives rise to an experience in tune with Ahimsā. Besides, that a thing does this is an objective fact and not an imaginary construction. The question, What is ‘right can be answered, according to the Jaina ethics, by saying that right cannot be separated from the good. Thus, right is that which tends to produce experience in tune with Ahirsā.
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Jaina Mysticism and other essays