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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
Mūrtivāda (Doctrine of the Worship of Jina Image)
sadbhāvanā jāgrati mūrtiyogād upāsakās tām tata āśrayanti / yogāpramatta-sthiramānasānām āvašyakaḥ syān na hi mūrtiyogaḥ //22// If we take recourse to the worship of Jina image, good meritorious spiritual feelings are roused in our hearts. This is the reason why householders worship Jina image. For those who have attained the state of firm spiritual vigilance and hence whose minds are stable and serene, the worship of Jina image is not necessary. (22)
sadbhāvanodbhāvanasādhanānām mūrtyātmakam khalu adhikam ya ekam / śrayed yathāśakti vivekayuktam karoti naivānucitas sa kiñcit //23// Among the means for rousing good meritorious spiritual feelings, worship of Jina image is one important means. If one discreetly takes recourse to the worship of Jina image, does he do anything improper? No, not at all. (23)
kaşāyarodhāya hi mūrtiyogaḥ samāśrayams tas tam anāšrayadbhiḥ / sārdham virodhācaranam dharec cet kutas tadā tasya sa sārthakaḥ syāt//24// We take recourse to the worship of Jina image for the sake of achieving subsidence or destruction of passions. If those who resort to the worship of Jina image bear feeling of enmity towards those who do not accept the worship of Jina image, then how can their worship of Jina image bear its proper fruit? (24)
Kriyāvāda (Ritualism)
na karmakāndāśrayadurgrahasyāʼnekāntadarśī dadate 'vakāśam / sarvāḥ kriyāḥ śuddhibhrtaḥ suyogāḥ śubhāvahāh ko 'tra satās virodhaḥ//25// One who possesses non-one-sided view never gives scope to obstinacy or stubbornness with regard to the performance of rituals and rites. Any rite or ritual does bring spiritual good or welfare, if it is performed with the pure or auspicious operations of mind, speech and body. Does any wise person have any objection to this view? (25)
There is a vast and baffling multitude of philosophical views. Some believe in soul, others do not. Even among those who believe in soul,
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