Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 17

Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution
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of the other is conscience and self-control or detachment. In Sramaņa tradition the former is described as wrong views (mithyādssti) and the latter as right views (samyagdrsti). In the Upanişads they are called the paths of śreyas and preyas respectively. In the Kathopanişad the sage says both of them i.e. śreyas and preyas present themselves to a human being. An ordinary man chooses physical well-being or preya, and a conscientious person selects 'good' or śreya. For the satisfaction of desires, the availability of their objects and the action related to them is expected. It is from this enjoyment-oriented philosophy of life that commitment to action has evolved; on the other hand for conscience, self control and for selfcontrol awareness of spiritual values i.e. the priority of soul over the body is required. It is this that has led to spiritualistic philosophy of life or the evolution of the path of renunciation.
The first stream has led to the origination of pravstti-mārga and the second stream to nivrttimärga. The goal of the former has been worldly enjoyment and therefore the goal for its ethical endeavor has been to acquire comforts. In the worldly life, it has been prosperity, wealth, children etc, whereas in the other- worldly life attainment of heaven- the highest state of material well beingwas declared as the ultimate goal of human life. Further, when man through his own experience in