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PATHWAY TO LIBERATION
with him who has experienced them; and their universality proves that they are facts of experience. The glimpses of the vision as recorded by Yogindu, are of the nature of light or of white brilliance... It may be noted in conclusion that the excessive rigidity of the code of morality prescribed for a Jaina saint gives no scope for Jaina mysticism to stoop to low levels of degraded Tantricism... The routine of life prescribed for a Jaina monk does not allow him to profess and practise miracles and magical feats for the benefit of house-holders with whom he is asked to keep very little company.
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Jaina mysticism is undoubtedly different from that of the Vedanta. To take a practical view the Jaina Tirthankaras like Rṣabhadeva, Neminatha, Pārsvanatha, Mahavira etc have been some of the mystics of the world; and rightly indeed Professor Ranade designates Rṣabhadeva, the first Tirthankara of the Jainas, as yet a mystic of different kind, whose utter carelessness of his body is the supreme mark of his God-realization' and gives details of his mystical life. It would be interesting to note that the details about Rṣabhadeva given in the Bhāgavata practically and fundamentally agree with those recorded by Jaina tradition.38
According to Jaina theory, the Atman attaining omniscience shines like the effulgence of the sun and experiences unalloyed bliss for which there is no parallel elsewhere. The great light flashes forth the moment self-realization is attained by the Atman who simultaneously becomes blissful with the limitless knowledge of the universe.
Jain Education International
The Jaina thinkers have indicated the practical steps to be followed in the attainment of insight into the real nature of the self and the knowledge of the various substances in the universe. The journey begins with the development of spiritual attitude. An aspirant has to consider the need of renouncing all identification with the animate objects like wife, children etc and develop such profound wisdom as will change his attitude towards the world around him. The inner self has to be disciplined by vows and austerities, devotion to the three Jewels and to Jina as their
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