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TEACHINGS
105
stances of this eternal universe are described as jāva and ajīva, soul and no-soul. The characteristic of living substance is attention, consciousness, and attentiveness.
Moksa is the essential point in the teaching of Mahāvīra which is generally understood as emancipation. It really means the attainment of the highest state of sanctification by the avoidance of pain and miseries of worldly life. Even at this stage the soul appears to be the same without the least change in its state. It is the suinmum bonum or the state of perfect beatitude as attained. It may also mean final deliverance or liberation from the fetters of worldly life and total annihilation or extinction of human passion
Much importance has been given to soul (attā) and puggala or individuality and personality. Karma plays, no doubt, an important part in Jain metaphysics. The Jain ethics has for its end the liberation or mokşa. The three jewels or three excellences are right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. The vows must be strictly observed by the monks. Laymen must observe them so far as their conditions admit. Then comes the tapa which is one of the most important institutions of Jainism. It is divided into internal and external tapas. The former comprises the
