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Chapter 13 NAV TATTVA: MOKSHA OR LIBERATION
Na Vi Dukkham Na Vi Sukkham, Na Vi Pidä Nev Vijjade Bähä;
Na Vi Maranam Na Vi Janananm, Tatthev Hoi Nivväanam.
Saman Suttam
(617)
Liberation is the state where there is neither happiness nor unhappiness, neither pain nor obstruction, neither birth nor death
The liberation or Moksh is the last of the 9 fundamentals. It is also known as emancipation. The followers of almost all religions have the aspiration for gaining liberation, but they hardly have a clear concept of that term. They have been told that liberation is the abode of happiness. Many of them therefore think that in the state of liberation, they would get every type of material comforts in abundance. Many of them also think that by following a particular religion, they would please an Almighty, who would graciously permit them to abide in the heaven, where they would get whatever they desire. But what would happen, if they happen to displease him? The Almighty would then send them to hell. Isn't that? Therefore, pleasing the Almighty does not serve the purpose of gaining the lasting happiness, because after a spell of so-called happiness they have to face misery and pain once again. Thus the longed-for happiness turns out to be a fiction.
This brings us face to face with the concept of God. Can there be a God, who would be pleased by worship and would therefore bestow health, wealth and happiness on the worshippers and would hurt the non-worshippers? Such an entity can be a despot or a self-centered man of means or any one else, but not God. Being self centered or becoming pleased with the praise is not a godly virtue. Again, is it possible for God or Almighty to create the universe or anything else out of nothing and destroy it, if he is disgusted with it? The reply will be in negative. Moreover, why should he create? If the reply is 'Out of free will', the question arises, 'Why should he will it?'. Even if we admit his will and the capacity to create, the question arises, 'Why does he create anything that is ugly, wicked, miserable or painful?' There are scores of such questions, which would cause an intelligent person to think that there is something wrong with the prevailing concept about the creator. Does it not look like a myth? Can there not be a more sensible and scientific concept?
At least 2500 years before, Jainism exploded that myth. It boldly refused to believe in a creator. Without the aid of the present scientific tools, it proclaimed that nothing can be produced out of nothing and the original substance or matter, as science would call it, is indestructible. Every such substance exists of its own, with its own properties and would continue to exist in one form or another. All the products that we come across, are merely transformations, not creations. They are produced out of something, which existed before. As explained in chapter 7, Jainism believes in six original substances, of which soul is the only conscious substance. Jainism is therefore concerned with its well being and happiness. After carefully studying the living organism, it came to the conclusion that all the living beings are embodied souls. Every soul is an independent entity and has been undergoing embodiment after embodiment as a result of his Karma.
For liberating from the bondage of Karma, Jainism does not look to any whim or for a favor of some almighty. Its concept of liberation is totally different and is based on sound scientific principles. It lays down that all the material phenomena are compositions and no composition can last forever. Our bodies also are compositions and as such they are bound to decompose sooner or later. "Material happiness' is therefore a contradiction in terms, because it is not real happiness and does not last forever. True happiness cannot be obtained from any external situation. That happiness lies within. Whatever phantom of happiness we experience in life is due to the existence of soul within the body. No dead body has ever experienced happiness or any other feeling. It is not the property of physical body to experience anything. Happiness is the inherent property of soul. That inherent happiness is not currently manifested on account of the
