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Jaina View of Life
fasting unto death. It is called Samlekhana. The Jainas have worked out a scientific analysis of Samlekhanā.60
Fasting unto death for specific purposes has raised moral problems. The question whether it would be a suicide and as such unjustifiable has been persistently asked with no relevant answer. The Jaina theory of Saṁlekhanā has raised similar problems. It is a much misunderstood doctrine, both in its theory and practice. Radhakrishnan makes mention of it as a form of suicide. 6! The Rev. Dr. A. C. Bouquet, Trinity College, Cambridge, states that the attitude of the Stoic towards his own death seems to be curious. He claims that one is entitled to do whatever one likes with ones own life. · Perhaps the Jaina, 'if interrogated, might say the same thing." He gives an instance of Zeno who is said to have suffocated himself to death in his old age because he had damaged one of his hands. It can only be said that a better understanding of the Jaina theory of Saṁlekhana would dispel the misgivings about it as a form of suicide and as an act of disregard for life. It is, therefore, necessary to analyse the theory and practice of Saṁlekhanā as the Jainas presented.
According to Jainas, the individual souls are pure and perfect in their real nature. They are substances distinct from matter. Through the incessant activity, the souls get infected with matter. The Karma, which is of eight types and which is material in nature accumulates and vitiates the soul from its purity. The souls get entangled in the wheel of Samsāra. This is beginningless, though it has an end. The end to be achieved is the freedom from the bonds of this empirical life. It is to be achieved through the three jewels'-- right intuition, right knowledge and right action.68 The way to Mokşa which is the final
60. Ibid. 61. Radhakrishnan (S): Indian Philosophy, Vol. I, p. 327. 62. Bouquet A. C. : (Rev. : Stoics and Buddhists paper read at 35th
Session: Indian Philosophical Congress. Waltair, 1960. Journal Selected papers p. 16.. 63. Tati vārtha-Sutra, I.
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