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PEACE AS THE ULTIMATE GOAL
According to the Jaina thinkers, the ultimate goal of life is to attain peace or tranquility our essential nature. In Ācārāngasūtra, one of the earliest Jaina canonical texts, we find two definitions of religion, one of the 'tranquility' and other as non-violence. Lord Mahāvīra mentions “Worthy people preached religion as tranquility or equanimity.” This tranquility or peace of mind is considered as the core of religious practice, because it is the real nature of living beings, including human beings. In another Jaina text known as Bhagavati Sūtra, there is a conversation between Bhagwan Mahāvīra and Gautama. Gautama asked Mahāvīra “What is the nature of self?” Mahāvīra answered “O Gautama! the nature of self is tranquility i.e. peace.” Gautama again asked “O, Bhagwan what is the ultimate goal of self.” Mahāvīra answered “O Gautama! the ultimate goal of self is also to attain tranquility or peace.” In Sūtrakrtānga, the term peace is equated with emancipation. Thus, for Jainas, peace being an essential nature Sva-Svabħava of self, it is considered as ultimate goal of life.
In Jainism, religion is nothing but a practice for the realisation of one's own essential nature or Sva-Svabhava which is nothing but the state of tranquility or peace of mind. This enjoying of one's own essential nature means to remain constant in Saksi Bhava i.e. to remain undisturbed byexternal factors. It is the state of pure subjectivity which is technically known in Jainism as Sāmāyika. In this state, the mind is completely free from constant flickering, excitements and emotional disorders. To get freedom from mental tensions, the Svabhava or Pure state of mind is theprecondition for enjoying spiritual happiness which is a positive aspect of inner peace.
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Jainism and its History
