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Jaina Logic
391
enunciation of non-dualism is also right from the standpoint of spiritual progress. The spiritual non-dualism is propounded in order to emphasise the fact that it is absolutely necessary for man to devote himself wholly to spiritual discipline if he wants to realise and attain soul; he should think of nothing else. Thus, effecting rightly the synthesis of these two views, O Savior, you have resolved their conflict. (9)
Ekātmavāda-Anekātmavāda (Spiritual Monism and Spiritual Pluralism) ekātmavādo hi samātmavādaḥ sa sarvabhūtaih samabhāvavādah /
tham sudhir bhāvayati śrito'pi nānātmabhāvam paramarthasiddham //10// According to one view there is but one soul. According to another view there are many souls. The former is called ekātmavāda, while the latter anekātmavāda. None can have any objection to the former, but quâ individual units the souls are really many. It is proper to understand the spiritual monism as the doctrine of the equality of individual souls. And the doctrine of their equality means that all souls are identical in nature, though numerically different. From the standpoint of their common nature of pure consciousness they are one. This doctrine teaches us to cultivate an attitude of viewing all living beings as equal and of viewing others as one views oneself. The wise reflect on the essential unity of all individual souls in the manner as indicated above, though they maintain the view that the individual souls are many. (10)
Avatāravāda (Doctrine of Incarnation)
muktasya bhūyo na bhavāvatāro muktivyavasthā na bhavāvatāre / utkrstajanmāna udārakāryair mahāvatārā uditā mahāntaḥ //11// The soul is not born again after having attained the state of liberation. If it is accepted that the liberated soul is born again in the world, it will contradict liberation itself and liberation will no longer remain liberation. So such a doctrine of incarnation is repugnant to reason. The birth of the great men is regarded as great due to the great works they perform in the birth. And the meaning of avatāra (incarnation) being janma (birth), they are regarded as avatārī, mahān-avatāri (those having great birth or incarnation). (11)
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