Ethical Doctrines in Jainism

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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tion, they remain quite indifferent to human weal and woe in spite of human prayers. If such is the case, possibility of sincere devotion in Jainism evaporates and cannot be maintained. But, according to the Jaina, the inspiration to devotion for the Arhat or the Siddha comes from the fact that one's devotion accumulates in the self the Punya of the highest kind, which brings about, as a natural consequence, material and spiritual benefits. By our devotion to the Arhat or the Siddha our thoughts and emotions are purified, which results in the deposition of punya in the self. This sort of Punya cannot accrue from worshiping a mere stone, hence the importance of the worship of Arhat or Siddha in Jainism. On account of this fact Samantabhadra proclaims that the adoration of Arhąt deposits great heap of Punya in the self. He who is devoted to him relishes prosperity and he who casts aspersions sinks to perdition. Thus the aspirant should not breathe in despondency for the aloofness of God (Arhat or Siddha). Those who are devoted to him are automatically elevated.
Finally, I have drawn attention to the fact that not-withstanding the differences in metaphysical conclusions arrived at by the various trends of thought, namely the Vedic, the Jaina and the Buddhist, their exponents have resorted to similar methods and contrivances in order to go beyond the manifest superficialities of objects. Thus they concur remarkably on the psychological, ethical and religious planes of existence. Along with this I have critically examined some of the important western ethical doctrines.
In the footnotes I have acknowledged my debt to the sources utilized in the preparation of this work. I have cared more for the trans
lation of the spirit of the original sources than for the word-to-word · rendering.
At the outset, I express my deep sense of gratitude to late Master MOTILALJI SANGHI of Jaipur (Rajasthan), who turned me to philosophy not by mere words but by his way of living and thinking. I regard him as a mystic of a high order. He reminds me of Socrates owing to his way of turning persons to value spiritual way of life and ofrinculcating interest in the study of spiritual literature without any prejudice of caste. and creed. Pandita CHAINSUKH DAS Nyāyatīrtha, Principal, Jaina Sanskrit College, Jaipur (Rajasthan), a man of deep scholarship, critical thinking and saintly living, has always been a source of light and inspiration to me. It is on account of him that I could pursue the study of original