Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 68

Time - When the time is ripe, souls become inclined towards religion.
Kārmika matter - It obscures the soul's natural attributes.
Efforts - With right faith and knowledge the soul fights against Kārmika energy and finally achieves the final state of supreme divine. Out of the above five major constituents while one becomes important, the remaining four remain subsidiary yet complimentary to the main. All the constituents are necessary for a soul's journey of births and rebirths until final liberation.
3. How do you know about the existence of angels or infernal beings ? The Christians believe in angels. May be you have another idea of how to become an angel ?
Jain scriptures have given voluminous description of different kinds of celestial beings-angels.
They have three main groups: 1) those in the upper division of cosmos, II) those in the central division and III) lower celestials in the nether region of cosmos.
Those who go to hell are infernal-hellish beings. The status and life-span, etc. in heaven and hell are according to the deeds committed in past lives.
4. About seven parts of hell and other information, who gave your Tirthankara the idea ? For a Christian it is easy to explain because we have the Bible, that was written by people who lived during the time when God sent his son Jesus Christ to earth.
Practically all the religions of the world are founded/ established by individuals. Every spiritual faith starts from some form of conviction of belief and have individuals as supreme God. Some are of recent origin. Islam 1,500 years,
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