Charlotte Krause her Life and Literature

Author(s): Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 88

An Interpretation of Jaina Ethics
5. Body and Soul are heterogeneous things, therefore one should not mistake the body and its demands for part of the self, nor allow it to rule over us.
6. The body contains many disgusting elements, thus one should endeavour to become a pure, bodiless Siddha.
7. Constantly, Karma streams into the soul and is bound by it, therefore one should try to stop it.
8. The way of stopping new Karmas entering the soul is Saṁvara.
9. The way of consuming Karma bound before is Nirjarā.
10. The Universe has the shape of a standing man, with the hells in its lower, the world of men in its middle, and the heavens in its upper parts. It is composed of the six eternal substances Soul, Space, Time, Matter, Medium of Rest and Medium of Motion. The three conditions of coming into existence, lasting and perishing, eternally alternate with one another. Thus, the world is transitory with reference to these three conditions, but eternal with reference to the six substances. Therefore, one should judge of all things from the standpoint of substance as well as from that of condition, if one wants to define them thoroughly and impartially, or, in other words, one should always apply the standard of relativity, which acts a prominent part in Jaina Logic, known under the name of 'Syädvāda'.
11. Instruction with reference to metaphysical truth, and faith in the latter are difficult to obtain. Therefore, having attained them, one should direct one's ethical conduct accordingly.
12. Taking into account the combination of particular Karmas necessary, it is very difficult to come into contact with a Jina, or with another competent teacher of metaphysical truth. Therefore, one should avail one's self of his spiritual guidance, if one has been lucky enough to meet one.
All these reflections are, of course, practicable by laymen too. They permeate, moreover, the whole of Jaina literature, in its