Jain Journal 1990 07

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

Page 33

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A liberated soul is omniscient according to the Jainas. On this point and, it seems to us, on the question of the nature of omniscience in souls which have attained it, the Jainas differ from the other Indian schools. In most of the philosophical systems of India, other than the Jaina, omniscience has not been attributed to a liberated soul. It is sure that in the Vedantic systems except that of the Advaita school, omniscience has been attributed in a liberated soul. But as we have already pointed out, omniscience in such a soul seems to be of a limited type. In the Yoga and other systems also, omniscience has been attributed to souls, about to attain the final liberation. But in the case of these souls also, omniscience seems to be limited. The omniscience attributed to the liberated souls by the Jainas, on the contrary, is perfect, unrestricted and unlimited. It seems to us that the omniscience, attributed to the liberated souls by the Jainas resembles that attributed to the Isvara by the Vedic theistic schools.
JAIN JOURNAL
According to the Jainas the jivas are omniscient by nature. Just as pure and clear water becomes muddy on being mixed with clay, in the same manner, the naturally omniscient jivas wander in the samśāra in an inomniscient state of knowledge, being polluted by the dirt of karma. As soon as the clay is removed, water resumes its clearness and purity; in the same way, the jivas also resume their pure state of omniscience, when they succeed in removing the karma impurities from them by dint of self-culture and self-development. The liberation of a jiva means its liberation from the influence of karma. In the liberated state of a soul, all karma-forces covering pure knowledge and omniscience are absolutely set aside. Accordingly, mokşa or liberation has been described as
samastāvaraṇa-kṣayapekşam
-Pramāṇa-naya-tattvālokālamkara, 2, 23
i.e. dependent on a complete annihilation of all (the karmas) that cover (knowledge); 'kevala-jñāna arises in the soul automatically as soon as these obstacles or karma-coverings are removed from it. Kevalajñāna is omniscience and as conceived by the Jainas it is not at all limited in any way
nikhila-dravya paryāya sākṣatkārī svarūpam kevala-jñānam
-Pramana-naya-tättvālokālamkāra,2-23
Omniscience consists in a direct apprehension of all the things with all their modes.