Agam 08 Ang 08 Antkrutdashang Sutra Sthanakvasi

Author(s): Amarmuni, Shreechand Surana, Rajkumar Jain, Purushottamsingh Sardar
Publisher: Padma Prakashan

Page 14

FOREWORD
(First Edition)
In the world whatever ideas, thoughts and preaching on religion, soul and god are available today originated first of all in India, the land of austerities. Since pre-historic times two streams of thought and culture have been flowing like the rivers Ganges and Yamuna. One of them is Shraman culture and the other Brahmin culture. The ultimate goal of both these cultures is the well being of soul, the ultimate development of life. However, there is a marked difference between the two about the definition of the ultimate goal of life, nirvana or the ultimate bliss of soul. This difference is the cause that divides the cultures into two streams. The Shraman culture is a culture that believes in nirvana or liberation, whereas all the rituals of the Brahmin culture revolve around the heaven. That is why there are differences also in the process of thought and conduct. The Shraman culture has mainly been detachment and austerity intensive. The Brahmin culture has been action and yoga intensive. The basic scriptures of Shraman thought are Agams that are also called Shrut'. The basic scriptures of Brahmin thought are the Vedas that are also called 'Shruti'.
Brahmin culture is a theist culture. There the meaning of nirvana is to merge with the God. The Advait (monotheist) sect believes that nirvana is to merge with Brahma.
A stream of the Shraman culture, the Buddhist culture, also believes in nirvana but there nirvana means extinction. The termination of the flow of life is nirvana. Like a lamp extinguished, the termination of the continuing flow of being, soul, particle, desire and others is nirvana. Thus in one, nirvana means to merge and in the other, it means-to end.
Shraman culture or Jain culture has since its beginning been based on nirvana or liberation. Here it is believed that of all the religions the best is nirvana. Bhagavan Mahavir is believed to be the best among those who believe in nirvana-“Nivvanavadiniha Nayaputte."
In Jainism the meaning of nirvana is very scientific and logical. In Bhagavan Mahavir's view-Nirvana means-to acquire unimpeded bliss and to attain the all powerful and ever blissful form that is free of all veils of karma.
Nirvana is to attain the ultimately pure form of soul which is endowed with infinite knowledge and infinite bliss. Such nirvana is the ultimate goal of every soul. To attain such nirvana one indulges in spiritual practices including detachment, austerities and meditation. To get success in practices is siddhi. To attain siddhi is the goal of every soul.
For attaining nirvana or siddhi is prescribed the path of detachment, austerities and meditation. A cursory glance indicates that according to the Brahmin culture yoga is said
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