Gandhi And Jainism

SR No.: 007798
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2017
Total Pages: 339
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 120 MB

Page 163

pure soul11 and the translation of Sthitprajna (stanzas II.55-72) discussed earlier.
The path to attain Moksha is called Moksha Marg in Jainism and consists of right belief-knowledge-conduct together.42 Gandhi also had similar views when he says, 'The Gita contains the gospel of work, the gospel of Bhakti or devotion and the gospel of knowledge. Life should be harmonious whole of these three. 43
When the empirical soul attains Nirvana, then it is just pure soul, and stays in the state called Moksha to enjoy bliss and just knowledge forever. Thus pure soul never returns to the world as empirical soul. Similar statement about pure soul is made by Gandhi:44
Nirvana is not an utter extinction. As far as I have been able to understand the central fact of Buddha's life. Nirvana is the utter extinction of all that is base in us, all that is vicious in us, all that is corrupt and corruptible in us. Nirvana is not like the black dead peace of the grave, but the living peace, the living happiness of a soul conscious of itself and conscious of having found its own abode in the heart of the Eternal.
d. God, Avatar
Rajchandra's reply (Q.2) shows that pure soul is the state of being Ishwar God as it has the wealth of knowledge and perfection i.e. devoid of any pain / pleasure and is always in a state of bliss. The pure soul embodied as a human being is called Jina/Arihant / Tirthankara and the liberated pure soul is called Siddha or the state of Moksha from where it never returns as empirical soul. The word God or Ishwar, does not signify a unique being of great power, or a creator of the universe, it is a term describing the perfect state of Atman in Moksha. Similarly in response to question no 25, he says 'I do not think that any
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