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sreyas and preyas. In the Kathopanisad the sage says both of them i.e. sreyas and preyas present themselves, to a human being. An ordinary man chooses physical well-being or preya, and a conscientious person selects 'good' or sreya. For the satisfaction of desires, the availability of their objects and the action related to them is expected. It is from this enjoyment-oriented philosophy of life that commitment to action has evolved; on the other hand for conscience, self control and for self-control awareness of spiritual values i.e. the priority of soul over the body is required. It is this that has led to spiritualistic philosophy of life or the evolution of the path of renunciation.
The first stream has led to the origination of Pravrittimarga and the second stream to Nivritti-marga. The goal of the former has been worldly enjoyment and therefore the goal for its ethical endeavor has been to acquire comforts. In the worldly life, it has been prosperity, wealth, children etc. In the worldly life attainment of heaven, the highest stage of material well being was declared as the ultimate goal of human life. Further, when man through his own experience in life saw that supra-mundane and natural powers can make his attempts for material comforts, success or failure, he cultivated a belief that material comforts and conveniences are not due to his own efforts but are because of the grace of these natural powers. Thus on the one hand he started eulogizing them, and singing invocations for them, and on the other hand he started pleasing them by Yajñas and sacrifices. Thus pravartaka-dharma grew and developed into two main branches: (i) faith dominated bhaktimarga (ii) sacrifice dominated karma-marga.
On the other hand śramana culture in its enthusiasm of living a life of purity, free from sins and independence made
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Jainism and its History
| SR No. | 032590 |
| Book Title | Jainism And Its History |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sagarmal Jain |
| Publisher | Research Foundation for Jainology |
| Publication Year | 2018 |
| Total Pages | 328 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 34 MB |