Jain Digest 2007 11 1

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

Page 11

JAIN DIGEST Winter 2007
Education while gaining knowledge also taught to stay vigilant अगग्गचित्तो भविम्मामि त्ति अज्झाइयव्वं भवड। towards the effect or impact of their actions and intentions. अप्पाणं ठावइस्सामि त्ति अज्झाइयव्वं भवइ। Restrain and discipline are part and parcel of Enlightened टिओ परं ठावइस्मामि त्ति अज्झाइयव्वं भवइ । Education. Proper conduct too goes hand-in-hand with it, as
c himas (31 9 - 5) highlighted in the Agama slokh below:
Enlightened education is a solution of ecstasy / Moksha. It has the नाणम्स मारमायागे
following purposes. Right conduct is the essence of Right Knowledge.
1. To gain knowledge, to seek the truth To better understand the concept of Enlightened Knowledge
2. To focus the wavering mind let us review a scene that occurred in a place called Madhyam 3. To steady and look within one-self Pawa. A Brahmin named Saumil had organized a large yagna 4. Upon achieving own state of stability to guide others towards (sacrificial rite). Eleven of the most knowledgeable and equilibrium renowned pundits were invited to perform the yagna. Close Enlightened Education, when pursued with these true by an acetic of the Shraman tradition was staying in Mahasena purposes, brings out the very best within us. Keeping the gardens spreading the message of non-violence. A huge crowd purposes in clear focus helps us in gaining control over had gathered to listen to this ascetic. The eleven learned arrogance, anger, negligence, ill will, and laziness. These Brahmins who had come to perform yagna decided to visit negative emotions are the biggest obstacles to Enlightened and question the ascetic. Indrabhuti, who was renowned for Knowledge. As one develops control over mind and internal his wide knowledge, was amongst these eleven pundits. He stability, one is able visualize things the way they are, instead was confident of being able to confure the ascetic's shramanic of the way we wish to see them through the filters of our beliefs and convert him to Vedic ritualistic faith. When this internal emotions. A person who has developed these key Brahmin approached the ascetic, the ascetic glanced at him strengths can then guide others to follow a similar path of with compassion and greeted him by his name. The Brahmin self-improvement. To begin the process of this education we was taken back and could not figure out as to how the ascetic need to have faith in the omniscient and in his message that he had never met before knew his name. But soon the Brahmin's will guide our individual soul to its highest potential. Such ego took over; proud of his popularity that everybody knew faith will invariably lead one to an Enlightened Guru who his name he was more determined then ever to undermine the can then guide the student towards the various steps of ascetic. But ascetic spoke in a reconciliatory voice "You have empowerment. While regular education prepares us to live doubts in the existence of jiva (individual soul), is it not so?" our current life, primarily from the materialist and the possibly The ascetic was Mahavira, the Brahmin was Gautam moralistic points of view, Enlightened Education is meant to Indrabhuti, and thus began the lesson of Enlightened Education develop the complete being and bring out the very best within from the omniscient teacher to a true student.
us, and to constantly use the Enlightened Knowledge only for This story brings out several important aspects: Firstly, what is
the endeavor of seeking truth and internal purification. the purpose of having full scriptural knowledge if the knowledge To summarize, Enlightened Education is the act or process of itself breeds pride in you, beating the very purpose for which imparting or acquiring Enlightened knowledge. During this one pursues the education? If the education is not complete, practice one constantly improves one's conduct by developing the very knowledge that is supposed to be beneficial can itself control over the wavering mind, gaining stability, and become an indirect sources of drawbacks. Secondly, in every developing powers of reasoning and judgment to comprehend education process there is teacher(s), student(s), and goal(s). the reality (ability to see from multiple angles). The knowledge In a regular education process the goals of the teacher and gained is used to seek the truth, stay within and constantly student will most likely have common elements but may not maintain the effort of purifying one's soul. Finally, a person be fully aligned. Different students may use same knowledge with Enlightened Knowledge will guide others to achieve the for different applications. In the case of Enlightened Education same goals, uplift people around and bring lasting benefits to the ultimate goal of both the teacher and the student is to the society. move towards the purification of one's soul. Lastly, in regular education and especially modern education based on scientific Samyag Gnän methods, the concept of "faith" is not taken into consideration.
- Compiled by Guest Editorial Team On the other hand, having faith is fundamental to Enlightened Education. Gautam Indrabhuti was very knowledgeable, in
In our practical lives, attachment of karmic matter defiles the other words, fully educated but his lack of faith prevented him
purity of the soul .When all Karmic matter is completely
annihilated; the soul vibrates at its natural rhythm and exercises from using this knowledge to decipher the ultimate truth.
its function of unlimited knowledge. Intelligence is one of the The following quote outlines the purpose of gaining Spiritual characteristics of the soul, but each one is different due to the Education:
variations in the degree of its purity. चउव्विहा खलु मुयासमाही भवइ, तं जहा
Knowledge (Gnän) is the soul's intrinsic, inherent, inseparable मुयं में भविस्मइ ति अज्झाइयव्वं भवइ।
and inalienable attribute, it IS the soul. Knowledge plays an Jain Education Interational For Private & Personal Use Only