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Jain Philosophy of Soul
123 and covering of Karma is called Mokşa."7 Shri J.L.Jaini, beautifully expresses and says, “The last day of Jainism is the day when the last Karma falls oft; matter bids good-bye to the soul, and the Jiva enters Niivāņa. It is a day of perfect calm, of serene being, of everlasting happiness."78
In order to undetstand the state of liberation as conceived by the Jains, we should also know the three-fold division of the soul. Five Labdhis, the two Śreņi (approaches ) and the fourteen Guņasthāna or the stages of spiritual development as explained by the Jain scripture. But then what is very clearly to be noted is that, according to Jainism, the main enemy or the greatest obstruction of the spiritual progress is delusion (Moha). It has two aspects : (i) that which prevents attitude of soul (Darsana-Mohaniya) and (ii) that which obstructs right conduct in the form of mental pollution (Cāritra-Mohaniya). It is after subsidence or annihilation of Darśana-Mohuniya the real spiritual development starts."79 5.3.3 The Three-fold Division of Atman (Soul)
| Ataman, in Jainism, is divided into the three categories, according to the position occupied in the ladder of spiritual development. They are: (1) Extrovert Soul (Bahirātman) (2) Introvert Soul (Antarātman) and (3) Super Soul (Paramātman).80
Bahirātman or the extrovert soul is the stage of impulsive life of lust and worldly enjoyments. Here the soul is also ignorent of its real goal. It is just like “Samsāraprāgbhāra” of Yoga or ‘Prathgjana' of Buddhism. The first three Gunsthāna consist of extrovert soul. Antarātman or introvert soul or introversion is the means to the goal of the supraethical stage, which is the Paramātman."81 The introvert soul corresponds to Kaivalyaprāgbhāra’ of Yoga or 'Srotāpanna' of Buddhism, “Here the soul distinguishes the self and non-self."82 “He relinquishes all the eight types of pride."83 The goal of all spiritual exertion is to attain Paramātman stage. Here all the sufferings disappear, and the soul shines forth in its natural qualities. It is a stage of complete
77. Nahar and Ghosh, : An Epitome of Jainism, p. 609 78. J.L. Jaini : Outlines of Jainism, (1979), p. 29 79. Bhargava Dayānand, Jain Ethics, (1968), p. 206 80. Paramātmaprakāśā, 1.12 81. Mokşapāhuda- 5.8 83. Kärtikeyānuprekşå - 104
82. Ibid., 17
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