Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Ramjee Singh
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

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Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion
Like the Vedic tradition, sometimes the Upanişadic seers also indulge in prayerful exhaultations to the deities. 1 Omniscience of Vişnu?, Brahmas and even Maheśat finds explicit references. Lastly, the concept of omniscience is also associated with the mystical syllable 'Aum'5 which is the acne of spiritualistic cosmogony of the Upanişads. 'Aum' is the world-al16 and hence to know ‘Aum' is to know everything. (3) The Approach of Dharmajñata
The heterodox systems like Buddhism and Jainism have a religion without God but they would not like to miss the advantages that one gets in accepting God. God is omnipotent, omniscient etc. Hence what is said by God, acquires additional prestige and power. Hence as a substitute of God, they have Prophets who are also omniscients in. This is the simple law of spiritual sociology that necessity is the mother of invention. Instead of God or godess, they strictly adhere to their respective religious dogmas. The basis of religion is ultimately faith. “The heart has reason of which reason has no knowledge', says Pascal. Tennyson in his 'Memorium' has said 'Believing where we cannot prove'. The need for believing is inherent in human nature. So we have nothing to say against the religious dogmas. “Religion may sometime justifiably be taken in the Lucretian sense of superstitio”?, says Galloway. But what of 1. Mahā nārāyaṇīya Upanişad, 2. 9-10, 6. 2 & 5; Praśna-Upa
nişad, 1. 8; Isavāsya-Upanişad 8; Hansa-Upanişad, V. I, p.
146. 2. Maitrayaniya Upanişad, 6. 38. 3. Nārada-parivrājaka Upanişad, 8. 14. 4. Sarva Upanişad, V. 20. 5. Maodūkya Upanişad, 1; Chandogya Upanişad, 2. 23. 3;
Taittiriya Upanişad, 18-17; Maitrí Upanişad, 6. 5, 6. 3; Śvetaśvatar Upanişad, 1. 14; Katha Upanişad, 2, 3. 2. 1. 8; Mundaka Upanişad, 3. 1. 9; Praśna Upanişad, 5. 1-5;
Katha Upanişad, 1. 2. 15–17. 6. Chandogya Upanişad, 1. 15. 7. Philosophy of Religion, p. 27 ( Edinbur., 1956 ).