Jain Journal 1972 07

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

Page 39

30
idam sariram kaunteya kşetram ityabhidhiyate.
"This frame, oh Kaunteya, has been called the field for action."
JAIN JOURNAL
Elsewhere, we have it, 'body first' (sariramadyam). The second essential condition is that the human body must be acquired in the actionregion, for region beyond this is not action-region but mere experienceregion (bhoga-bhūmi), wherein one experiences the karma effects, but is not liberated. The third essential condition to action is the acquisition of a proper guide which the exceptionally lucky, who are ripe for liberation, only get. This is not in conflict with the Jaina emphasis on self-exertion. Man is, by all means, and in all respects, the architect of his own fortune, one hundred percent responsible for all his acts, physical, mental and vocal. But man, by birth, is not endowed with 'right knowledge' (samyak jñāna) and 'right faith' (samyak darśana). So he has to acquire these from a spiritual guide who is in possession of them, and this he has to do with due humility and devotion. But once this is done, the framing of conduct on the basis of right knowledge and right faith is the individual's own responsibility, as also the decision whether this 'right conduct' (samyak caritrya) should be pushed as a householder or as a monk.
It may be asked, why, of all the 24 species of living beings, man alone has a hankering for liberation. The answer is built-in in the Jaina system itself, which is that whereas the 23 species are destined only to suffer, the karma effects, good as well as bad, pleasant as well as painful, man alone has a hankering for bliss (sukha). Now, this hankering for bliss may be either worldly, which is the exclusive goal of the west, and which is over-flowing to the east with a great rush,or it may be extra-worldly, which has been pointed by the eastern seers. Worldly bliss is to seek happiness and comfort in worldly life, and the writer is an eye-witness of this in the west itself and is in a better position than many to testify its outcome. But that is not the way prescribed by the Indian seers, who believe not that worldly happiness leads to greater happiness, but who believe and emphasize that it is restraint and penance that lead to real happiness. As Mahavira has said,
na sukhena sukham adhigantabbam dukhena sukham adhigantabbam
"Not through pleasure is pleasure attained, Through hardship is pleasure attained."