Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 52

ĀTMĀ The Self....
THE RELIGION
Every spiritual path starts from some form of conviction or belief. Practically all the religions of the world are founded / established by individuals.
Jainism is derived from the word 'Jina'. The word 'Jina' means 'the person who is a spiritual victor'. The person who has conquered his inner enemies, the attachments and aversions (completely annihilates passions and desires, and becomes 'Vitarāga') attains omniscience. Only thereafter the Omniscient Spiritual Teacher - Arhat propounds the path towards self conquest, and the one who follows 'Jina' and his path are 'Jaina'. Jaina religion (Jainism) was not founded by any individual. It is a philosophy from beginningless time with a continuous lineage of Arhat in the human existence. Presently they exist in all of the five Mahāvidēha Kṣetra of the 'Jaina worlds'.
Jaina Philosophy is Timeless :
The tradition of oral transmission of Scriptures in 'Ardha Māgadhi' language was carried onward from generation to generation and from preceptor to preceptor. The language is well adapted to give precision and clarity to abstruse and difficult ideas. The terminology can be difficult and often rendered almost incomprehensible by untranslated technical terms for which no concise modern equivalent has been sought or found.
Jinagama :The triple Doctrine of the origin:
All'Arhat's present and future after attaining omniscience propound three basic (founding) principles - 'Tripadi'- 1) Upannēvā, 2) Vigamēvā, and 3) Dhūvēivā. Emergence, Extinction/Annihilation, and Permanence, in reply to Ganadhara's (after their initiation to the Sacred Order as Gaṇadhara - the topmost - highest spiritual authority after Arihanta) query of 'Kim Tatvam?' - What is element? - the fundamental truth-cosmic order-cosmology?
The basic substances are eternal-permanent, but go on manifesting themselves in various states retaining their original and essential forms in
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