Mahavira and his Philosophy of Life

SR No.: 006934
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Vidya Samsthan
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 80
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

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while the latter is not the propounder of religious faith or principles, but silently enjoys simply the sublimity of mystical experience. It should be borne in mind that Mahavira is the Tirthankara-Arahanta. Owing to the delivering of sermons for general beneficence, he is the perfect Guru and also the perfect Deva on account of the complete actualisation of the divinity potential in himself. It is through the medium of Tirthankara-Arahantas that mystical life has been possible on earth. In the Jaina texts though Arahanta and Siddha are styled 'God', yet the ultimate responsibility of emancipating oneself from the turmoils of the world falls upon one's own undivided efforts, upon the integral consecration of energies to the attainment of divine life. Thus every soul has the right to become Paramatman (supreme self) who has been conceived to be the consummate realisation of the divine potentialities. Arahantas are consummate mystics. They lead a life of super-moralism, but not of a-moralism. It is inconceivable that the Arahantas who have attained supremacy on account of the realisation of perfect Ahimsā may in the least pursue an ignoble life of Hiṁsā, a life of vice. He is no doubt beyond the category of virtue and vice, good and evil, Punya and Papa, auspicious and inauspicious psychical states, yet he may be pronounced to be the most virtuous soul, though the pursuit of virtuous life is incapable of binding him to the cycle of life and death. Samantabhadra ascribes inconceivability to the mental, vocal and physical actions of Arahanta, since they are neither impelled by desire nor born of ignorance. Whatever issues from him is potent enough to abrogate the miseries of the tormented humanity. Hundreds of souls get
Mahăvira and his Philosophy of Life
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