Jain Journal 1974 01

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

Page 47

JANUARY, 1974
131
a manner as we find in the Jaina system. This view seems to be a vindication of that famous utterance in the Bhagavad Gitā :
uddhared ātmanātmānam nātmānamavasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanah
The Jaina view of Self being as big as the body it inhabits naturally leads one to conclude that the Jainas take the Self in the sense of the Soul. As Dr. Jacobi suggested, the Jainas arrived at their concept of Soul, not through the search after the Self, but through the perception of life. For the most general Jaina term for Soul is Jiva (life) which is identical with Self (āyā, ātman). Dr. Mukhopadhyay was forthright and meaningful when he clearly maintained that if we take the root meaning of the word ātman which is derived from the verb 'at' with the suffix 'manin', then everyone will have to own that the Jaina view is the truest of all which conforms to the original sense of the word. The root 'at' implies constant movement (sātatya gamana) and the Jaina theory of the infinite progression of the Self brings out this basic characteristic of the ātman and that is why we affirmed at the outset that the Jainas are ātmavādins in the truest sense of the term. Dr. Mukhopadhyay was of opinion that a philosophical analysis and approach in the Upanişads was very very close to Jainism the most ancient religious faith in India. Dr. Mukhopadhyay strongly felt that the concept of Atmā as propounded in Jainism is one of the best and the most cogent and logical approaches to it, which enormously impressed and influenced the succeeding philosophies and religions. Dr. Mukhopadhyay stressed that it would be wrong and fallacious to regard these two approaches as wholly contradictory. In many respects, one complements the other, thus clearly signifying their commonness in many points.
Shri K. K. Jain, Convenor of the Seminar Sub-Committee, proposed a vote of thanks and expressed gratitude for the kind co-operation and participation by the guests and scholars. The House then adjourned for the afternoon session.
The afternoon session, was presided over by Dr. S. N. Sen, ViceChancellor, Calcutta University. Shri Bijoy Singh Nahar, Chairman, Bihar State Committee of Bhagawan Mahavira 2500th Nirvana Mahotsav, accorded a warm welcome to all the participants and outlined the importance of the ensuing Celebrations. He said that the present Seminar is a prelude to these celebrations and is meant to give not only a good start but a valuable impetus also.