Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

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Jainism in a Global Perspective
is tranquillity i.e. peace. Gautama again asked 'O, Lord what is the ultimate goal of self, Mahavira answered 'O, Gautama, the ultimate goad of self is also to attain tranquillity or peace."
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In Sūtrakṛtänga, the term peace is equated with emancipation.12 Thus, for Jainas, peace being an essential nature sva-svabhāva of self, it is considered as ultimate goal of life.
In Jainism, religion is nothing but a practice for the realisation of one's own essential nature or sva-svabhāva which is nothing but the state of tranquillity or peace of mind. This enjoying of one's own essential nature means to remain constant in Śākṣībhāvai.e. to remain undisturbed by external factors. It is the state of pure subjectivity which is technically known in Jainism as Sāmāyika. In this state, the mind is completely free from constant flickerings, excitements and emotional disorders. To get freedom from mental tensions, the vibhāvas or impure states of mind, is the precondition for enjoying spiritual happiness which is also a positive aspect of inner peace. No body wants to live in a state of mental tensions, every one would like not tension but relaxation, not anxiety but contentment. This shows that our real nature is working in us for tranquillity or mental peace. Religion is nothing but a way of achieving this inner peace. According to Jainism, the duty of a religious order is to explain the means by which man can achieve this peace: inner as well as external. In Jainism, the method of achieving mental peace is called as Sāmāyika, the first and foremost duty among six essential duties of monks and house-holders. Now the question arises how this tranquillity (Samată) can be attained? According to the Jaina view-point, it can be attained through the practice of 'non-attachment'. For attachment is the sole cause of disturbing our inner peace or tranquillity.
Attachment, the cause of mental tensions :
As I have already mentioned that the most burning problem of our age is the problem of mental tensions. The nations, claiming to be more civilised and economically more advanced, are much more in the grip of mental tension. The main objective of Jainism is to emancipate man from his sufferings and mental tensions. First of all, we must know the cause of these mental tensions. For Jainism, the basic human sufferings are not