Jaina Philosophers On Nature Of Liberation

Publisher: Unknown

Page 15

Article Navigation
jīvas upwards, which is the reason why the jīvas that are entangled with karmic matter are kept down' in samsāra, where they move in various directions. The third reason for the upward motion of the liberated jīva that the texts propose is the severance of the karmic bondage, which all commentaries explain with the help of the example of the castor seed. A castor seed is propelled into the air only once the castrel that encases it opens. In the same way, the jīva cannot attain liberation until it is released from all karmic matter. Here, the question was raised whether the second and the third reason were not overly similar to be listed separately, but it was indicated that they are listed as distinct reasons because they approach the topic of the liberated jīva's motion from two different angles, one from the perspective of stability and the other from the perspective of karmic bondage. The fourth reason that the texts discuss is the innate modification, in line with which jīvas move in the upward direction because that is simply their own-nature, much like the own-nature of the flame of a lamp guides it to be directed upwards. This reason is comparable to the Svetāmbara deliberation on the freedom from karmic ties, the second reason discussed. In fact, in order to illustrate the fourth reason, Svetāmbaras use the example of the gourd in the water that the Digambaras use to illustrate the second reason. Causes like the impetus are indicated to be secondary or additional forces acting upon the foundational dynamics of the liberated jīva's innate motion. The material cause of the liberated jīva's motion is, therefore, always only the jīva itself, with the other factors acting as external instruments that can affect its operation. At the moment of the jīva's liberation, the full capacity of its innate disposition to move upwards is manifested.
This manifestation is, however, only short-lived as the jīva's travel is limited to the area where motion is possible, that is, the cosmic space. Even though the jiva's essential disposition to move upwards remains intact throughout liberation, the ability for any substance to move is determined by the presence of a special substance called the medium of motion that defines the limits of the cosmos. The liberated jīva reaches its upper edge from the middle realm in the course of a single moment. Since it cannot travel beyond it into acosmic space, it stays there forever, surrounded by the other liberated jīvas that undertook the same journey.
Acknowledgement
Skithte Manorowtout like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on
the article.