________________
114
Gems of Jainism
According to Samkhya: Discriminatory knowledge (Vivek Jnāna) According to Vedanta (Samkara): Self Realization (Brahma - Jnāna) According to Vedanta (Ramānujācharya, Vallabh, Madhva): Differentiated Knowledge (Bheda Jnana) According to Nyaya: Material knowledge (Padārtha Jnāna)
According to Jainism the absolute knowledge to the soul is liberation. Till the stage of shedding of the Karma (i.e.Nirjara) is going on there is no liberation. Till Nirjara, absolute knowledge is not possible. Remember karma, according to Jainism is matter and according to Jainism the matter can cover the spirit. Let us talk about the nature of liberation in Jainism. Nature of Liberation:
In the 10th and the last chapter of Tattvarthasutra, its author Umaswati discusses the nature of liberation. Earlier to this he has discussed how good deeds and bad deeds: both types of deeds become the cause of bondage of the soul. He says that “the root cause is Mithyātva i.e. false knowledge which means nescience. Mithyātva means perversity of out look. It leads one to wrong perception. He perceives non soul as soul, irreligion as religion, wrong way as the right way etc."!+ The other causes are avirati (vowlessness), pramād (carelessness), kasäya (passions). He talks in this chapter about the extreme (or total) annihilation of Karma which is possible according to Jainism through double action: One, by not allowing any new karman to pollute the soul, and two, by shedding off (nirjarā) the karma which are bounded due to previous deeds. The Nirjarā i.e. shadding off the karma could be attained through Penance (tapa) and Meditation (Dhyāna). The karma when anihilliated, absolute non -attachment (Vitaragatva) and Omniscience (Sarvagnata) shine out. Even at this stage karmas which determine the duration of life (Ayus karma) and such other karmas remain. They are, though less, being not yet annihilated the bondage remains, and so the liberation is not possible till they are also totally annihilated. When they are, in due course, annihilated, the soul
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
