$JES 911 Essence of World Religions Reference Book

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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Essence of World Religions
greed, attachment, and aversion are moved. The removal of passions in turn removes all layers of Karma, which are viewed as substance, causing the soul to rise to the ceiling of the universe, known as Moksha. The soul abides forever in total bliss in Moksha.
Path of Attainment The spiritual path consists of integrated trinity; Right Faith (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnän), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra). They must coexist in a person if one is to make any progress on the path of liberation. Initially one needs to acquire the proper knowledge of the true nature of soul and other reality. When one is totally convinced of one's knowledge, at that moment this knowledge will remove the ignorance about one's own nature. This stage of spirituality is called realization of truth or attainment of Right Faith and Right Knowledge. Popularly it is known as Samyaktva stage. The realization of truth leads to Right Conduct. Right Conduct includes compassion and non-violence (Ahimsa) towards all living beings, pluralism of views (Anekäntaväda or Syädväda) towards all faiths and ideas, non possession (Aparigraha) or limitation of possessions and non-possessiveness, self-purification, selfcontrol, austerity, penance, asceticism, and meditation. There are various spiritual stages exist in practicing the Right Conduct called Gunasthänas.
Synopsis Jainism is an original system, quite distinct and independent from other systems and philosophical traditions of India. Jainism is a modern word to describe the ancient spiritual path of non-violence. The term Jain comes from the word 'Jina' which means 'spiritual victor'. It designates a person who is a conqueror of the inner enemies - anger, ego, deceit, greed, fear, attachment, and hatred. Jainism strives for the realization of the highest perfection of man, which in its original purity is free from all pain and the bondage of birth and death. Jains believe that from eternity, the soul is ignorant of its true nature and is bounded by karma. It is due to karma that the soul migrates from one life cycle to another and passes through many pleasant and painful situations. The ignorant soul due to its action
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