Jain Journal 1990 01

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

Page 45

108
JAIN JOURNAL
welfare of both the society and the individual.29 If the path is followed with the realization of its true meaning the height of the humanity can be achieved, as Jainism claims that its aim is to reach to the highest stage of the humanity. But in the attempt to reach such humanity, human society cannot be overlooked.
The Jainism lays utmost stress on the personal conduct and his ultimate goal of life can be achieved by observing the ethical code, which contains the religious rites like six daily duties, six daily avasyakas etc. 30 In one of these avasyakas, samāyika has a special theoretical status as its aim is to lead a man towards samya, the equity, and to discard the worldly passions. The pledge like karemi vante sāmāikam, is, though ritual, significant ; and the sense of equity with all the creatures cannot exclude the man and the society in which he exists. If it excludes them, it denies the principle of equity and social significance cannot be attached to it. The ritualistic, abstract sense of equity has no meaning if the human society is not approached. This pledge binds the worshipper with the human society, if the negative attitude does not prevent the way. The process of the socialization of a human being is similar to the attempt to reach the highest humanity, as it can not be achieved without the socialization. In the age of science, no other interpretation could be practical. If God-worship is not there, the transformation of the individual into the society should occur under such pledge with highest stage of the spirituality. The ritual form must not prevent the way of the exploration of its true contents. Other āvas yaka kriyās too support it. If the Jaina system has no room for the bhakti (of God)31, the bhakti of a human society can not be avoided. Otherwise, the ritualistic conduct would become merely mechanical.
Ahimsa too is a way of life for a Jaina, but it can be developed in the midst of the society of human beings and the other creatures have no cause to clash with the interests of a man or a society. In fact, man has no envy of other creatures. Why then men is so neglected before them ? The simple reason lies in the attempt to reach an imaginary stage, bypassing the human society, which makes the man a social animal. The Jaina rituals supported by sāmāyika or ahimsă can play a role of integrating the moral force or the human society, if they will be seen in such
29 Sangve, Ibid., p. 229. 30 Ibid., pp. 351, 52, 221-224. 31 Hastings, Ibid., (Prayer), p. 188.