ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 275

Question: If the omniscient knows non-self substances from the conventional aspect only, then his omniscience should also be deemed to be so from conventional aspect, not real one?
Answer: It has been called conventional, because just as omniscient knows the self - soul as part and parcel of his own being, He does not know non-self substances similar & identical to that of the self, but not that He lacks the knowledge of non-self substances. If He knew the non-self substances with the same oneness affinity as with his own self, he would have been happy - unhappy by knowing the pleasures and miseries of others and would have himself become attached or aversions which, in fact would have been a great fault.
"One who knows the omniscient Lord in respect of his substance, attributes and modifications knows his own soul also and his delusion disappears." The remedy of conquering delusion has been shown in this verse; i.e., one who knows his own soul (true nature of soul), his delusion is eliminated. Thus, the understanding about the characteristics of Arihantas has been made compulsory for the annihilation of perverted belief.
The substance and the attributes of our own soul and those of the Arihantas are exactly similar, difference lies only in the present modification over modification is completely developed and the same is our ideal and aim. This is the reason that along with the realization of the self, the recognition of true God Arihantas, true scripture (His divine discourses) and true monks is absolutely necessary for the achievement of right faith.
Omniscience is the basic foundation of Jaina philosophy, so we need to know its nature and the process of achieving it. Without faith of true God, true scriptures and true monks is not possible because the difference of true faith of true God, true scripture and true monks is not possible because the differentiate of true God is omniscience and passionlessness (complete detachment). The origin of scriptures lies in the divine voice of the omniscient Arihantas. The true monks are followers of the path shown by the omniscient God.
One who is going on wrong path cannot reach his destination. Likewise one who is having wrong concept about the self and non-self, yet thinks that he is on right path of liberation, he will never attain liberation. Samantbhadra in his 'Ratnakarand r vak c ra' (a sacred book on householder's religion) has written the following verses:
The belief in the true God, scripture and preceptor (monk) by fulfilling the eight requirements of true belief and without three kinds of follies* & eight kinds of pride** is called Right Faith.
The belief that the Jaina Tirtha karas are the true Gods, the Jaina canons are the true scriptures and the Jaina saints the true preceptors is called 'Right Faith'. The three kinds of follies are:
Folly of senseless deeds in the name of religion, viz. bathing in so called scared rivers & oceans, setting up heaps of sand & stones, immolating oneself by falling from a precipice or being burned up in fire etc
Folly of devotion, viz. worshipping with desire to obtain favour, of worldly false deities who themselves are full of passions, likes-dislikes etc.
Folly of devotion of hypocrites consists in the worshipping of false ascetics who have attachmentaversion with worldly things. The eight types of pride boasting for:
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0