Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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The Main Objective of Jainism: 21
right view-point regards the self as of supreme value and aims at the realisation of its quiddity or its ideal unconditioned state of pure knower, which is free from attachment and passions. It is mentioned in Samayasāra :
Evaṁ sammāithi appāṇam muṇadi jaṇagasahāvaṁ. (209) that the self possessed of a right view-point realises the pure soul as that whose nature is knowledge. Thus according to Jainism the right view-point regards self as pure knower (suddha draṣṭā) and distinct from not-self. This detached attitude only can free mankind from its mental as well as physical sufferings. The Cause of Bondage and Suffering
First of all Jainism maintains that the attachment (Rāga) and delusion (moha ) obscure our spiritual nature and are responsible for our worldly existence and suffering. The most intense vāsanā is hṛdaya-granthi, which is a deep attachment towards sense-objects and worldly desires. The oldest name of Jaina sect is Niggantha-dhamma. The word Niggantha means the one who has unknotted his hṛdaya-granthi, i.e., the 'mine'-complex; it means, in other words, one who has eradicated ones attachment and passions. The word, 'Jaina', also conveys the same meaning; a true Jaina is one who has conquered ones passions. According to Lord Mahavira, "to remain attached to sensuous objects is to remain in the whirl Acārānga, 1.1.5). The attachment towards sensuous objects is the root of our worldly existence (Acārānga, 1.2.1). Further it is also mentioned in the Acaranga, "only he who knows the nature of the sensuous objects is possessed of self, knowledge, scripture, Law (dhamma) and Truth (bambha )" (Acārānga, 1.3.1). The five senses together with anger, pride, delusion and desire are difficult to be conquered, but when the self is conquered, all these are completely conquered (Uttarādhyayana, 9.36). Just as the female crane is produced from the egg and