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Essence of Jainism
attainment of emancipation, the highest goal of life. These are : (i) right vision, (ii) right knowledge and (iii) right conduct. At places, only knowledge and activity are stated to be the means of emancipation. At such places philosopbical vision of the form of knowledge is not taken to be separat. But the question is this.. If, in the Vedic philosopbies, four means -Karma, Jñana, Yoga and Bhakti are laid down for liberation, why does the Jain philosophy take only three or two to be the means ? This is explained by the fact that in Jain philosophy, when rigbt conduct is stated to be right activity, both the paths of Karma and Yoga are incl. uded in it; in right conduct control of the mind, victory over the senses, purity of consciousness, spirit of equanimity and the means for these are included. Control of the mind, victory over the senses etc., are Sättvika Yajña that constitutes the path of Karma and only purity of consciousness and the good activities undertaken for this constitutes the path of Yoga. In this way, a mixture of the path of Karma and the patb of Yoga is precisely right conduct. Right vision constitutes the path of devotion because the element of faith dominates in it. Even right vision is of the nature of faith. Right knowledge constitutes the path of knowledge. In this way, the three means of liberation in the Jain philosophy constitute a: combination of all the means in other philosophies. Independent Existence of Ātmā and Rebirth
The relevance of all that is stated above about Karma is. possible only when we take Ātmā to be an element other than gross and material. One of the proofs of laying down tbe independent existence of Āimā is rebirth. Again, so many problems will! defy solution if we do not belieye in the existence of Āumā after the present body is no more.
There are so many men who lead a very honest lise and yet. remain poor. There are also persons who get agitated and enraged by the very talk of justice, morality and religion and still they are happy in all respects. We also come across persons who com. mit blemishes and the fruits of their faults fall on others. One: person is the murderer and often another is banged; one commits.
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