Ethical Doctrines in Jainism

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

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ETHICAL DOCTRINES IN JAINISM
announces that the pain arising from venom cannot be eliminated by using an incomplete Mantra. Similarly he says that Samyagdarśana with mutilated organs is incapable of undermining the disquietude permeating the enpirical existence. The eight organs of Samyagdarśana are: 1) Nihsankita, 2) Nihkāmkṣita, 3) Nirvicikitsā, 4) Amūdhadşști, 5) Upagūhana, 6) Sthitikaraña, 7) Vātsalya and 8) Prabhāvanā. First, he who possesses the Niḥsankita Anga does not doubt the multiple nature of reality seeking expression from the omniscient Jina. Besides, he adheres to the principle that kindness to all creatures is Dharma and injury to them is Adharma. The nature of this Anga must not point to the throttling of the inquisitive nature possessed by man. Doubt is not reprehensible if it aims at the decision of the nature of things. But if pushed contrariwise, it is suicidal. The initial scepticism may lead to final certitude. Where our crippled intellect cannot penetrate the nature of things, belief in them is the best guide, since the Tīrthankara cannot preach with prejudice. But where logic can stretch its wings, one should pin one's faith on a thing after following the course of rational thinking, so that dogmatism may not creep in. Because of the unshakable faith in the righteous path, the possessor of this Anga eschews seven kinds of fear, which are ordinarily present in the perverted souls. He is not frightened when the things imparting him physical and mental pleasures part company, and when sorrows and agonies associate with him. Nor is he perturbed by the fearful thought concerning the life hereafter. Besides, he has ousted the fear of death, of discomfiture arising from disease, of heavenly and earthly accidental occurrences, of his safety and lastly of losing his affluence or self-restraint. Secondly, the Nihkānkşita Anga implies that the true believer never hankers after the worldly opulence and empyreal pleasures, inasmuch as he is convinced of the fact that these earthly enjoyments are impermanent, fraught with miseries, procreative of sin and evil, and are caused by the filth of Karman.“ Also he does not cling to onesided views.? Thirdly, the Anga known as Nirvicikitsa signifies that there should be no feeling of disgust at the various bodily conditions caused by disease, hunger,
1 Ratna. Śrāva. 21. 2 Caritra. Pā. 7.; Uttară 28/31. 3 Puru. 23. 4 Kārtti. 414. SMülā. 53; Bhāvanā viveka. 41, 43 to 51. Seven kinds of fear: 1) Lokabhaya, 2) Paralokabhaya, 3) Marañabhaya, 4) Vedanābhaya, 5) Akasmikabhaya, 6) Arakṣabhaya, 7) Aguptibhaya.. 6 Ratna. Srāva. 12. 7 Puru. 24.