ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

SR No.: 007712
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2012
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 137

even includes the efficient causes of transformation as if they have as the nature of the main entity and describes the entity in the form of other entities.
For example, we call the tree of almonds, almond with the kernel and shell as almond also even though only the kernel of almond is of use to us and is the real almond. Similarly we call our body, family and house as ours or us even though only our pure soul (sometimes embodied with karmic impurities also) as us. Even at this stage, like almond with the peel, the empirical soul is bonded with external matter and so it is only pure soul we are interested in. Thus the pure soul becomes the subject of transcendental viewpoint while all other transformations or manifestations of pure soul with other karmic matter bonded with it are the subjects of practical viewpoint. Pure soul is therefore called to have transcendental or eternal existence. It is worthwhile to see the distinctions of empirical and pure soul for different attributes as placed in Annexe 1.
From the table we see that pure soul and empirical soul, both being non-concrete and slightly concrete, cannot be a subject of sensual perception. Hence we base our knowledge about them through their association with matter as material body and thus say sometimes that body and soul is same. This statement is from practical viewpoint to use body as a means to go deeper and understand and experience the empirical soul first and then the pure soul. Similarly attributes of pure soul like infinite perception, knowledge and conduct are referred as the path of attaining pure soul status. We can discuss other attributes shown in table from both transcendental and practical viewpoints accordingly.
As per definition of viewpoint doctrine, the intention of the knower is very important. So a person whose objective is to attain pure soul status has to view the soul from pure soul status only and perform activities of conduct, knowledge acquisition etc so that he can experience the attributes of pure soul and move forward to achieve that status completely. On the other hand in our day-to-day worldly lives, we have to know the means i.e. right knowledge, belief and conduct and practice them to achieve our worldly objectives while keeping the nature of pure soul in mind. For example to succeed in our profession we must have faith in our own resources, capabilities; acquire the knowledge of the business i.e. what it is, its scope and competition, money involved, technology and management skills needed; and then start acquiring knowledge and perform activities. This is what Jain path of purification i.e. right belief - knowledge - conduct together is the path to attain liberation is all about. One has to make efforts to succeed in its objectives.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0