Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
View full book text
________________
1.2.2 Origination of Samyagdarśana (Spiritual Awakening) The Occurrence of Samyagdarśana or spiritual awakening is sometimes consequent upon the instruction of those who have realized the divine within themselves, or are on the path of Divine-realization, while at other times, the self is reminded of its spiritual heritage automatically without the help of any outside instruction. The importance of instruction is paramount, since the self in whom spiritual awakening has taken place without apparently any direct instruction must have received instructions, if not here, in some previous birth. In other words, he who has not got any instruction since beginningless past is incapable of being awakened spiritually; and he who has got such an opportunity in some previous birth may be so awakened without any instruction at present. Thus instruction is unavoidable. It shall not be contradictory to aver that "the secret of knowing God, of realizing Him, is, whether we like it or not, in the hands of mystics." "It is through them alone as spiritual teachers or Gurus that we shall have to bring about the spiritual conversion in us."10
Spiritual awakening not to be confused with moral and intellectual accomplishments: There may be a tendency to confuse spiritual awakening with moral and intellectual accomplishments. One may say that he who is intellectually enlightened and morally converted is spiritually awakened. How can a man after attaining to the fair height of intellectual knowledge and moral uplift be spiritually barren? Though it is astonishing, yet it is regarded as a fact by the Jainas. The "Dravya-līmgi-muni is an instance of this sort of life. No doubt, intellectual learning and moral conversions may facilitate spiritual awakening in, certain selves, but this cannot as a rule bring about the latter. A spiritually unawakened man may be an astute intellectualist, a resolute moralist, but he will lack that spiritual quality by virtue of which he may be called a real saint, a seeker of spiritual truth, a person moving on the spiritual path. Thus spiritual awakening is to be sharply distinguished from moral and intellectual accomplishments.
2.0 Devotion It is generally recognized that devotion in Jainism is a contradiction in terms, since devotion presupposes the existence of a Being who can actively respond to the aspirations of the devotee, and in Jainism such a conception of being is inadmissible. It is true to say that Jainism does not uphold the idea of such a being known as God, but it undoubtedly
Tattvārtha-sūtra, Umāsvāti, I. 3 (Bharatiya Jnanpith, New Delhi) 10 Yoga of the Saints P. 57, 58
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 179 of 385
