________________
Theistic Color of Popular Beliefs and Sadhana
133 Jain) makes the individual the architect of his fortune and the maker of his destiny. The individual is alone responsible for his degraded status and it is upto him to work out his salvation by his unaided efforts.": This is just the background whereupon the philosophical superstructure of Jainism was raised.
In the light of the above mentioned attitude and in consistency with this background, a Jain Sadhu (monk) as well as a Srāvaka (householder) is required to be very cautious about his speech." He is prohibited against making unwarranted categorical assertions or negations.''6 "The nonviolent and tolerant attitude of the Jains was responsible for their uttermost carefulness regarding speech which was required to be unassaulting as well as true."? "It is this attitude of tolerance and justice that was responsible for the original of the doctrine of non-absolutism (Anekānta)." The entire list of the truth can be put in this way: Every soul in its pure form is divine and that is God, he is not to be understood but to be achieved by removing all the impurities of Karma attached to the soul. The soul, more soul, a larger, higher, richer and more illuminating soul, is, in the last analysis, the goal of Jainism. The love of this spiritual progress at any and every level of development, is the religious impulse, and therefore theistic too.
In his essay on Jain religion, Prof. V. G. Apte says, “The Jains believe God to be omniscient, unchanging and holy.", The popular belief and the strong faith with which Jains follow their creed is far away from the metaphysical or ontological technicalities. To them Tirtharkaras and Siddhas are Gods. Their temple (Jain Prāsāda) is the seat of such idol- worship. A Jain layman who is a true follower of the Jina is as much a soul as the God he is worshiping. "Thinking from this point of view some souls are worshippers (Sadhakas) and some are worshipped or liberated (Siddhas)"!0 Some of the popular beliefs on which we find devotion (Bhakti) becomes possible are:
(i) God is the lord, master and saviour of all the living beings.. (ii) No achievement is possible without the grace of God.
4. Tatia Nathmal, Studies in Jain Philosophy p. 218 5. Acaranga Sutra II - 4 6. Ibid II 4.1 7. Tatia Nathmal, Studies in Jain Philosophy p. 22 8. Ibid. p. 229. Malvania Dalsukhbhai : Jain Dharma Cintan, (1965), p. 116 10. Malvania Dalsukhbhai : Jain Dharma Cintan' (1965). p. 116
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
