Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 36

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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
A dialog between Jambū Svāmī and Sudharmā narrated in Ācārāngao explains soul's transmigration philosophy in Jainism, which is very much similar to, as explained in the dialog between Lord Krşņa and Arjuna in Bhagavadgitā.°3
"O Long-lived (Jambū Svāmin)! I (Sudharmā) have heard the following discourse from Lord Mahāvīra: Here many do not have the experience (that is memory of the place from where they have transmigrated) such as -
"Have I transmigrated (to this world) from the eastern direction, or from the southern direction, or from the western direction, or from the northern direction, or from the direction above, or from the direction below, or from any other direction, or from any intermediate direction?""64
"Similarly, many do not know- is my soul subject to birth, or is my soul not subject to birth? Who was I (in my previous life), or after departure from here what shall I become in my next birth?” OS
Also, Similarly, Blessed Lord said in Gītā, “Many are the births taken by me and you, O Arjuna. I know them all you know not, O Parāṁtapa!.":66
The above two sūtras from Jainism and Vedic philosophy, justify and prove Jainism an āstika system.
Hemaśabdānuśāsana by Hemacandra 62 Ācārānga Sūtra, 1/1/1 "Bhagavadgītā, 4/5 Otsuyam me āusam! teņam bhagvayā evamakkhayam - ihamegesim no sanna bhavai, tam jahā - puratthimão va disao agao ahamamsi, dahinao va disao agao ahamamsi, paccatthimao va disao agao ahamamsi, uttarao va disao agao ahamamsi, addhao va disao agao ahamamsi, ahe va disao agao ahamamsi, annayario va disao agao ahamamsi, anudisao va agao ahamaṁsi?, ĀcārāngaSūtra 1/1/1from Ācārānga Bhāsyam, BhāsyakāraAcharya Mahaprajna, Jain Vishwa Bharati, 2001, Ladnun,P-17 "evamegesiṁ no natam bhavati -atthi me āyā ovavaie, natthi me āyā ovavāie? ke ahamāsi? ke vā io cuo iha peccāa bhavissāmi?, Ibid. 1.2, P-17
Bhagavadgītā - 4/5