Jain Theism

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Hemant Shah

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Jain Theism
: “By what act can I escape a sorrowful lot in this unstabe, ineternal Samsāra, which is full of misery ?”?
There are more points concerning ethics to be remembered. Ethics, as we have already seen, being an application of the theory, being technology of philosophy it is determined by the answers and solutions arrived by metaphysics and epistemology. “Before you come to ethics, you must answer the questions posed by metaphysics and epistemology.' In Jainism, we find ethics, theories of conduct in accordance with its metaphysics and epistemology. 4.1.1 Historical Background of Jain Ethics
Regarding the origin of Jain ethics Jacobi is of the opinion that the Jains have borrowed the rules of ascetic life from the Brāhmaṇs. This opinion has been rejected by Prof. K. C. Sogani. He discusses in full length and quotes a number of authorities in support to his observations, that "Jain monachism does not seem to have originated from Brahmanical idea of Samnyāsa."'10 He also quotes Dr. Upadhye and says, “Before the advent of the Aryans in India, we can legitimately imagine that a highly cultivated society existed along the fertile banks of the Ganga and Jamuna and it has its religious teachers. Vedic texts have always looked with some antipathy at the Magadhan country where Jainism and Buddhism flourished, and these religions owe no allegiance to the vedic authorities."'\\ Prof. K. C. Sogani concludes by saying that Jain ethics is Magadhan in origin. 4.1.2 Philosophical Background of Jain Ethics
By philosophical, I mean, metaphysical and epistemological background, the background on which ethics depends, Jainism has been discussed at sufficient length from its metaphysics as well as epistemology and logic point of view in the previous chapters. Jainism, in its metaphysics, accepts the theory of “pluralistic realism, and adopts a theory of “Bhedābheda" or difference in identity."'!? The realism of
8. 3rd GITARAUFH, Harris quoque !
fa uns out paupi, Jug gong of To It U.S. 8.1 9. Ayn Rand Philosophy Who Needs It, (1984) p. 3 10. Prof. K. C. Sogani, Ethical Doctrines in Jainism, (1967) p. 12 11. Ibid. p. 12 12. Dr. Radhakrishnan, Indian Philosophy Vol.I (1977) p. 313