________________
llah". Allah is the Supreme Divine, super power and the supreme enricher.82
Buddhism
84
Divinity, -according to English Pali Dictionary, refers to 'Devatta'.83 The word Devatta refers to Deva which means heavenly beings. Buddhism, an atheistic religion, does not believe in the Creator God, but have a belief in the existence of Devas, heavenly beings, who are subject to kamma (karma) and dukkha (sufferings) and have not yet attained Nibbana (Nirvana), the state of perfection. Nibbana is taken as the state of eternal bliss, as it must be taken, everyone who attains Nibbana becomes god, Dibba. The word 'Dibba', according to Pali English Dictionary, means divine; magnificent; a being higher than man (Devas, heroes and manusa).85 Buddhism believes that a man is potentially divine, and godhood, the nature of perfection, is to be attained. It believes in "Be a light unto thyself". Buddhism takes man as the highest being. There is no god creating and ruling and therefore man is inferior to none. He can himself attain godhood, purity. A man, free from suffering (Saravam Dukkham), is perfect and not tied to the chain of causation or dependent origination.
86
Godhood is attained by following the four noble truths87 (Arya - Satya). Nibbana, the purity and perfection, is practising the path leading to removal of suffering (Dukkha - Nirodha Gamini - pratipadi - Arya - Satya)88 which is preached by the Buddha, an awakened one. Buddha is all knower and all powerful Divine being with rupa (body). He, the Supreme Divine Reality, is prayed and worshipped by the celestial beings (Devas). The Buddhists worship and adore the Buddha as an embodiment of holiness and compassion and as a great spiritual leader and saviour of mankind. This topic is dealt elaborately in the III Chapter.
12
Jain Education International
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
