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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
ing of good thinking, good conduct, equanimity, self-control, austerity, renunciation of desires and passions, spiritual study, and avoidance of bad company or contact. This has been extensively expounded in the Jaina spiritual works.
The soul has infinite powers. By strong spiritual efforts, they can be developed and actualised. They are perfectly manifested when all the karmic coverings are removed. They in their state of perfection are beyond description. The miracles of physical sciences are nothing as compared to those of spiritual powers. The advancement of materialism and the prosperity acquired through it are harmful and destructible and attended with miseries, distresses, afflictions, fears and dangers. But the light of spiritual power is the beneficial, soothing, cool light. And it is the perennial fountain of pure bliss. It is infinite happiness unmixed with misery. Spiritual pilgrimage is the only way to attain it. Learning and science lead to happiness and prosperity, provided they are associated with religiosity and spiritualness; otherwise, they play havoc and cause infinite miseries and calamities.
Soteriological Reflection (Bhāvanā) As we have just said, the power of reflection weakens delusion and feeling of attachment. The Jaina authors treat of twelve soteriological reflections. These reflections increase man's detachment from the world, protect him from harmful tendencies and spur his efforts towards final emancipation. They are conceived as aids to spiritual progress; they inspire renunciation of desires and promote detachment and dispassion. They are a means of purification of thoughts and incentives to liberation.
(1) Transitoriness of all worldly objects (anitya) To think deeply and continuously that all things are evanescent is the reflection on the momentariness. It is an effective means of the reduction of attachment.
All things are transitory, fleeting, evanescent, in constant flux and transformation. Nothing in this world is eternal, everything is subject to change and decline. Association with loved ones, wealth, prosperity, pleasures, health, body and youth, indeed existence itself-all these are impermanent. The only foundation of embodied beings for achieving their objective is the body; but even this body is destined to destruction like the clouds devastated by strong winds. Life changes like a wave, beauty of
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