Jain Journal 1968 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 55

JANUARY, 1968
141
to one and the same result. For knowledge, i.e., wisdom necessitates meditation and concentration, and cannot be had without them : and conversely, meditation and concentration lead to wisdom, without anything further being necessary, so that wherever there develops the habit of deep cncentrated meditation, or thoughtfulness, there wisdom must, sooner or later, come into manifestation, Thus, all the different branches of Yoga, Iñāna Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Rāja Yoga,—are so many means for developing the habit of concentration and meditation. When the mind is steadied and gives up the habit of wandering in the pursuit of the objects of desire, it becomes quiescent setting the soul free to study itself, which, in consequence of the quieting down of the mind, now presents the appearance of the placid surface of a lake unruffled by storm or waves, and sees itself as the source of all knowledge and power and bliss. Right Discernment, or Belief, having arisen, it immediately sets knowledge free from the subjection to doubt and dubiousness, transforming it at once into Right Knowledge, without which the observance of the rules of Right Conduct is a matter of impossibility. The Path of Emancipation, thus, consists in Right Discernment, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, which also constitute the three priceless jewels in the crown of glory of the Emancipated Soul, that is, God.
The body of karmas (the kārmaņa sarira) which accompanies the soul in all its incarnations, is made of very subtle matter, with consciousness ‘embedded' in it; and so long as this body does not break up, the soul cannot attain liberation by any means. This subtle body carries with it the seed of the individual character, in the shape of modifications of its 'structure', from life to life. So long as ignorance prevails, individual desires hold it together ; but with the advent of wisdom, and its concomitant state of desirelessness, the pole of magnetism changes, and the particles of matter, instead of being attracted and held together, are repelled and dispersed, thus destroying the body and leaving the pure Saccidānanda in place of the limited ego which ignorance may be said to have planted on Truth.
The main thing, then, is to acquire wisdom, that is, the knowledge of the Self. Knowledge is power, and, sooner or later, is bound to lead the soul to the highest heights of bliss.
The above are truly the underlying principles of every rational religion in the world; but the one creed that teaches them fully and clearly is Jainism, which is also the most ancient of all. In Jainism the Holy Tirthankaras and Ācāryas have taken the utmost care to allow the purest