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( 18 , Jain idea of biography. The Jain viewpoint while writing a biography is not that of the usual historical biographer. The Jain interest is not diffused over the whole range of the subject's activities ; it is all centred at one point, and that point is the attainment by his subject of salvation. The Jain biographer writes about other things only in so far as they have to do with the attainment of this ultimate object. Interest would be spread over the whole wide field of activity when a biography, like that of Rama or Krishna, is written with a view to help the codification of the principles of dharma. The Brahmanic view, which was based on a desire for success in this world as well as the next and which linked up, in the significant phrase of Sir S. Radhakrishnan, 'the realm of desires with the prospective of the eternai', thought in terms of the gratef or human values- Dharma, artha, kama, and moksha-and considered the acquisition of wealth and the enjoyment of the present life as worthwhile as the ultimate attainment of the moksha. But to the Jain there is no such thing as a real enjoyment of things material.
The Jain siddhanta is based upon the presupposition that the whole universe can be classified into one or other of the two everlasting, uncreated, coexisting but independent categories, the 1a and the 37371a; and the Jain metaphysics proceeds on the assumption that the Jiva (which corresponds in general to the atman of the other schools of Indian thought) not only exists but that it also acts and is acted upon. The intrinsic nature of the Jiva is one of perfection and is characterised by infinite intelligence (77A), infinite perception (अनन्तदर्शन), infinite peace (अनन्तसुख) and infinite power (3797791f). During the period of the union, however, of the Jiva with matter which constitutes sam sara, the characteristic features of the Jiva's qualities are obscured, although not destroyed, and the exterior semblance of the Jiva belies its innate glory'; and from this obscuration it becomes the
duty of each individual soul to free itself. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
| SR No. | 034936 |
| Book Title | Lord Mahavira |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Boolchand |
| Publisher | Jain Cultural Research Society |
| Publication Year | 1948 |
| Total Pages | 124 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 12 MB |