Jain Journal 2003 04

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

Page 14

VINCENT SEKHAR : A LITTLE KNOWN FAITH
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of thought Gītā worked through greater reconciliation between the sramana and the brāhmana traditions.
Despite this trend, the Jaina renouncer tradition insists on the complete abandonment of act as one of the ways to get rid of karma, the others being carefulness and resolving to tread the path of virtues without passionate attachment. Complete abandonment of action is considered even today and extreme form of Jaina asceticism, known as holy death or Sallekhana. The fourteenth and the last state in the spiritual ladder (guņasthānas) is the status of a perfected being abandoning action (a-yoga kevalin). Some of the rules for the Jaina monks and nuns pertaining to food, movement, etc. reflect an attitude of carefulness and detachment (Ācārānga Sūtra 1.7; II.1.7). But there are other instances where pious acts are exalted as means of attaining liberation: ‘Turning from worldly life they reach the goal by pious acts; by their pious acts they are directed towards (liberation) and they show the way to others' (Sūtrakrtānga. 1.15.10). But Jaina scriptures repeately point out that complete freedom is beyond good and bad acts. As indicated earlier, Jainism is said to be the Religion of Selfhelp or Self-will: 'Man, thou are thy own friend, why wishest though for a friend beyond thyself' (Ācārārga, 1.8.3.4). Each one has to exert oneself in the rule of truth in order to overcome the evil one: ‘Misery is produced by one's own works, not by those of somebody else (viz. fate, creator etc.)' (Sūtrakstānga, 1.12.11). 'Mother, father, daughter-in-law, brother, wife and sons will not be able to help me, when I suffer from amy own deeds' (Ibid, 1.9.5, Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, 6.31) because 'the doer of the acts must suffer for them' (Sūtrakrtānga, 1.9.4). Hence it becomes a challenge for the aspirant to overcome the power of karma by his or her own insight and pure conduct. 'No one can escape the effects of their own actions' Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, 4.3) because 'the karma follows the doer' (Ibid, 13.23). One has to reap the fruits of one's own action. Every action has to be realized, and thus annihilated. The fruits that are not matured will stick to the perosn till they are matured. This is the logic
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