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Essence of Jainism
major difficulties. When man struggles to attain to the goal, so many internal and external enemies attack. The result is that his full victory under the circumstances is not possible just through only Vrata-Niyama, only conduct or only knowledge. On experiencing this in life, Bhagavān Mabāvira arranged tapas and Parişaha.. in such a manner that the two included Vrata-niyama, Cāritra and Jñāna--all the three. He proved the possibility of the assimilation in and through his life.
A Co-ordination of Kriyāyoga and Jñana yoga in Jain Austerity
Tapas and Parişaha are originally born of the life of the recluse and the Bhikşu, though their effect and spread reaches right upto the commonest of the householders. The purpose of the life of renunciation was only spiritual peace. Spiritual peace means calming down of pains and mental tortures. Victory over pains and suffering was a great victory according to the Aryan seers. That is the reason why Maharşi Patañjali shows the purpose of austerity in these words: “The purpose of austerity is to weaken sufferings and to strengthen the forces of Samadhi." Patanjali knows Tapas as the Yoga of activity because he includes only vows and rules in austerity. He is therefore further required to take to the Yoga of knowledge in addition to the Yoga of activity, But the Jain austerity includes both the Yogas. We should always remember that external austerity, which is Yoga of activity is for the nourishment of internal austerity, that is Yoga of knowledge. The former is useful in the attainment of the ultimate goal of life only through this nourishment and not independently.
(Darsan ane Cinian, pt, 1, pp. 441-444)
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