Jain Journal 1995 10

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

Page 30

SEKHAR : THE HUMAN PERSON FROM JAINA AND BUDDHIST
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are only superficial. The idea of karma and its efficasy are sufficient to explain the whole of life. It is not in a fatalistic sense that karma has been described as the root of samsāra but in the sense of selfdetermination. Miserys is produced by one's own works (the belief of kriyāvādins). It is for this reason that śramana religions are called religions of Self-help.9 The folowing pages will explain what these systems mean by Human Person, how the person is linked to other reatities and vice-versa, its destiny etc.
JAINA UNDERSTANDING OF A HUMAN PERSON
Samayasāra, one of the foremost revered Digamdara Jaina religious texts, describes the nature of Jiva (Living Being) in genneral and we can draw implications for the human person in particular. Samayasāra makes a clear distinction between the empirical and the transcendental self. From the empirical point of view, the self (Jiva), associated with the matter (non-self), becomes the agent of actions and experiences, pain and pleasure. From the transcendental point of view the self has nothing to do with the matter. 10 What 6. Svetāsvetara Upanişad gives the summary of schools of thought giving
prominence to either one or the other of these factors responsible for the cause of universe, misery etc. Jaina thinkers are 'Kriyāvādins' who believe that misery is produced by one's own works, not by those of somebody else, namely, fate, creator etc. (Sutrakrtanga 1-12.11) Syād-vādamañjari and Şad-darsana-samuccaya bring out a refutation of the existence of an eternal, omniscient God (Syäd. mañ.p 29f; sad. Sam. 45f) The doctrine of a personal' God who created the universe 'ex nihilo' is not found in Buddhism, such a being is neither expicitly affirmed nor denied: 'Inconceivable, O Monks, said Buddha, is this samsāra; not to
be discovered is any first beginning of beings. 7. The conditions of living being arise from karma (Ācāränga Sūtra 1.3.1.4,
1.3.2.3, 1.4.3.1; Sūtrakrtanga, I.2.1.4, 1.2.3.18). 8. Misery is produced by on's own works, not by those of somebody else'
(Sūtrakrtānga, I.12.11); 'Mother, father, daughter-in-law, brother, wife and sons will not be able to help me when I suffer from my own deeds... (Sūt.Kr.1.9.5, Uttarädhyayanasūtra, 6.31) Because the doer of the acts must suffer for them' (Sūt.kr. 1.9.4): 'No one can escape the effects of their own actions' (Utt. Sūtra 4.3);
'Karma follows the doer' (Utt.Sūtra 13.23). 9. 'Man, thou art thy own friend, why wishes thou for a friend beyond
thyself?' (Acārāngasūtra 1.8.3.4). 10. Samayasāra, 2, 150 (Samayasāra explains siva in its real sense for an
understnading of person according to Samayasāra of Ācārya Kundakunda, see article of the author in Jain Journal', Jain Bhavan Publication, Calcutta, Vol 25, Jan. 1991, pp. 110-108)