Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

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We live socially in a real and in a sense, everlasting universe of animate sentient conscious beings (JĪVA) and of inanimate objects, insentient, unconscious = (Ajiva). We attract (Aśrava) subtle forms of matter to ourselves, and assimilate them into space points (Bandha). Thus the natural qualities of soul are more or less obscured and consequently various conditions of weal (Punya) and woe (Pāpa) are experienced. We have been doing this and suffering the consequences for ever in the past before birth and since, perpetuate our bodily existence through death and rebirth continuously. This continual attraction and assimilation of matter generates in us energies which are not the essential factors of the soul's existence but which hinder the soul's natural activities. These unnatural energies may be stopped and destroyed by stopping the influx. (Samvara) and by ridding the soul of matter (Nirjarā).
This is effected by practising 35 ordinary rules of conduct, self control, concentration and more advanced form of mental & moral discipline. The individual develops gradually more and more unimpeded activities of the immortal self in the form of Right Knowledge, Right Faith, Right Conduct, wisdom, love, strength, blissfulness, contentment etc. overcoming ignorance, false beliefs, greeds, foolishness, cruelty, weakness, pain, misery, are removed, forever, finally achieving eternal salvation, the "Moksa" - Ever-lasting Bliss.
We beg forgiveness from all living beings and express full repentance for all our sinful behaviour, cruel and merciless actions committed knowingly or unknowingly in our present and
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