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SCHOOL
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SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
ध्याय परम
TAN STUDIES
(with emotions) or is wrongly directed (mithyātva), the influx of matter particles bind with the soul for fruition later. The bonded matter particles are called karmas, which are like seeds which germinate later resulting in auspicious (good health /family/wealth/prestige etc) or otherwise. The type of bondage depends on the auspicious and inauspicious state of the soul.
If the soul observes self restraint, practices vows and equanimity and focuses on its inherent nature, then further accumulation can be stopped i.e. no more auspicious or inauspicious karmas can take place. This is called Stoppage or sanvara and can be considered like Preventive methods to keep oneself healthy.
• Further when the empirical soul starts enjoying its nature and is able to stop new bondage, then it meditates on itself and like a laser beam, annihilates the impurities (matter karmas) associated with it till it reaches the sate of eternal bliss or a completely sickness free existence. This can be equated with curing through medicines or surgery or faith based techniques.
The path to attain the highest state of eternal Bliss is called Mokṣamarga which consist of the practice of right belief-knowledge-conduct together.10 Right belief is the first and most important factor which makes the knowledge and conduct also right or wrong.
For ethics related to medical practitioners, family, society and the government and new technological or biological developments, two factors are important namely:
Each must have right belief11 i.e. the well being of all concerned. The last four limbs of right belief and the four characteristics 12 of right belief are very important to note here for developing an attitude of welfare of the sick/fallen.
10 Samyagdarśanajñāäncäritrāṇimokṣamarga ḥ || TS I.1
11 Limbs of right belief:
Relating to individual's improvement:
State of doubtlessness (Niḥśamkita); state of no desire (except for creative or spiritual attainments) (Nikāmkṣita); freedom from superstitions (Amudhadṛṣṭi), develop virtuous dispositions (Upaguhana). Relating to his social interactions:
Not to hate a meritorious being (Nirvicikitsā); develop positive condition of loving others (Vatsalya);
to re-establish the fallen on the right path (Sthitikarana), to propagate ethical-spiritual values (Prabhāvanā).
12 Absence of intense emotions (anger, pride, greed and deceit), intense interest and commitment in the nature of entity (dharma), compassion and existence of soul and its capability to achieve bliss
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
