ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 191

other individuals as mere means is decried and denied. Where there is Vātsalya, all our dealings with others will be inspired by reverence; the role of force and domination will
be minimized. Thus the spiritually awakened develops Vatsalya characteristics.5 iii. It is likely that individuals may deviate from the path of righteousness. In dealing with
persons, they may become so selfish as not to allow them their due share of liberty; they may become very possessive. Pride of power, use of force, and exploitation of the weak may look to them normal ways of life. To establish them in the good life is Sthitikaraṇa.6 The spiritually awakened individual develops Sthitikarana characteristic. This is very
much necessary in a society where the role of creative impulses is to be established. iv. The good ways of life, of thinking and doing things should be made widely known to
people at large, so that they may feel obliged to mould their lives in that pattern. For this, we need psychological methods of transmitting knowledge to be followed in all earnestness. The scientific techniques of radio, television and the like are to be utilized for propagating good ways of life. If the researches in the laboratories are not taken to and utilized in the fields, they will serve no significant purpose. They will be like doing things in seclusion. Similarly, if the findings in the human laboratory in the realm of values are not taken to human beings in general, things will deteriorate and conditions will not change. The spiritually awakened individual develops the characteristic known as Prabhāvanā? for propagating ethical-spiritual values by such means as are best suited to time and place.
In addition to these eight characteristics indicative of Samyagdarśana, there are other characteristics, which accompany the subsistence of spiritual awaking. These are
i. Reduction of passions to the extent of acquiring mental peace; Prasama ii. Turning away from the causes, which enhance worldly career; Samvega iii. Expression of the non-skeptical attitude towards the spiritual nature of Reality; Āstikya iv. Manifestation of universal compassion; Anukampā
s Kārttikeyānupreksā,, 419-20, (Rajachandra Ashram, Agas).
Ratnakaranda-śrāvakācāra of Samantabhadra 16, Purusārthasidhyupāya of Amrtacandra, 28 Purusārthasidhyupāya of Amrtacandra, 30, Ratnakaramdaśravakācāra of Samantabhadra 18, Kārttikeyānupreksa,, 421-422 Rajavartika of Akalamka, I. 2/30, Bharatiya Jnanpith, New Delhi.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0