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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
Bhartrhari, an exponent of Hindu Ethics writes in his English rendering of Vairāgyaśataka, 'A person drinks sweet fragrant water when his mouth is dry with thirst. He eats rice mixed with vegetables, etc. when he is afflicted with pain of hunger; he strongly embraces a woman, when he is burning with sex desire'l.
He wrongly regards the subsidence of disease (miseries) as positive happiness. And how long does this sensual pleasure continues? It is perishable and momentary. Within a moment it disappears and a whirlwind of miseries, afflictions and distress rises.
And that slight sensual pleasure is not a positive state of happiness, but simply a negative condition of the absence of misery.
Again, it is always mixed with grief and sorrow.
Are there in this world only a few distress and agonies due to attachment and aversion?
Are there only a few grieve caused by desires and anger?
Are there only a few attacks of diseases and sorrows?
Are all these situations pleasant?
Is the degree of distress and dissatisfaction not infinite times more than that of peace and satisfactions?
One who is suffering from eczema, experiences pleasure in scratching skin affected with. Others do not have any desire to scratch skin, nor do they experience pleasure in doing so. Similarly, those who are afflicted with desire arising from delusion or nescience, find pleasure in activities inspired by it.
47 Referred to by Muni Shri Nyāyavijayaji, “Jaina Philosophy and Religion”, (1998), P-30
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