Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Agamoday Samiti

Page 34

law of Karman. It solves the problem of the inequality and apparent injustice of the world. The Karman in the Jain philosophy is divided into eight classes: Those which act as an impediment to the knowledge of truth; those which act as an impediment to the right insight of various sorts; those which give one pleasure and pain, and those which produce bewilderment. The other four are again divided into other classes, so minutely that a student of Jain Karman philosophy can trace any effect to a Particular Karma. No other Indian philosophy reads so beautifully and so clearly the doctrine of Karmas. Persons who by right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, destroy all Karmas and thus fully develop the nature of their soul, reach the highest perfection, become divine and are called Jinas. Thuse Jinas who, in every age, preach the law and establish the order, are called Tirthankaras.
2. I now come to the Jain ethics, which direct conduct to be so adapted as to insure the fullest developinent of the soul-the highest happiness, that is the goal of human conduct, which is the ultimate end of human action. Jainism teaches to look upon all living beings as upon oneself. What then is the mode of attaining the highest happiness? The sacred books of the Brahman; prescribe devotion and Karma. The Vedanta indicates the path of knowledge as the means to the highest. But Jainism goes a step farther and says that the highest happiness is to be