JAINA Convention 2011 07 Houston TX

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 87

JAINA CONVENTION 2011
selfish religion and hinders the people from doing virtuous work.
2. In my teaching of Jain religion, I generally ask the following question:
Mahävir swämi attained Keval-jnän at the age of 42 and then he travelled for 30 years to preach the truth he had realized to the people. At the age of 72 he attained nirvana or liberation.
Why did he travel for 30 years to preach? He could have stayed at one of the caves in meditation and still attained liberation.
I get only one answer - Because of Tirthankar Näma Karma
In my opinion this is an incorrect statement, and here is my logical explanation: Keval-Jnäni possesses "Yathäkhyäta Chäritra"; meaning his conduct is natural and according to the innate nature of the soul. In this state no karma can influence him. Karma has maximum influence on the people who are at Mithyätva state (1st Gunasthanak) and have no influence on those who are in a Keval-Jnäni state (13th Gunasthänak). So the answer does not fit the Jain philosophy of logic.
The correct answer is that the Tirthankar possesses unconditional compassion (Karuna or Jivadaya) towards every living being of the entire universe. This unconditional compassion is the innate nature of the soul and hence Mahävir Swami preached two or three times a day every day and travelled for 30 years. To indicate that "because of näma karma" he traveled and preached does not fit into the definition of what is natural conduct for a Keval-Jnäni.
Summary
Spiritually Jainism is a very simple religion to understand and practice.
The Mohaniya karma is the single most dangerous karma because due to this karma we acquire all 8 types of karma and hence we cannot attain Keval-jnän.
Hence in order to reduce/eliminate Mohaniya karma, initially we need to attain the followings:
"Live and Help Live"
1. Human life, spiritual environment, and healthy body. (These are the fruits of Punya karma only)
2. Continuous effort and awareness to reduce Mithyätva (illusionary knowledge of soul) and Kashaya (vices such as anger, ego, deceit, and greed) from our human life. This will ultimately remove Mohaniya karma.
In other words, in order to attain liberation we continuously need to do virtuous activities like helping others, showing compassion to all beings, following a strict vegetarian (Vegan) diet, studying and discussing of religion (Svädhyaya), and protecting the environment. Such activities will assure us a human life in next birth.
However, while doing virtuous activities, we should remain very alert and should not get trapped by fame, power, high social status or frustration of not accomplishing the result. In other words, do not reflect or expect any fruits of our virtuous work. Such reflection will reduce and at the end will eliminate our Mohaniya karma.
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Without the presence of Mohaniya karma, all other karma become powerless and person attains liberation at the end of current life.
No one should think that Jainism teaches that Punya is a karma that hinders the soul in attaining liberation. Punya is a good Aghäti karma and no Aghäti karma hinders any innate qualities of the soul and hence Vitarăga state and Keval-jnäna. On the contrary Punya karma provides a human life and spiritual environment for the soul in the next life to attain Keval-jnän. It is our free will or determination (Purushärtha) that determines our use of the favorable environment created by Punya karma.
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