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THE IDEA OF GOD IN JAINISM
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THE IDEA OF GOD IN JAINISM The Jaina idea of God is that of a Perfect Spirit. Spirit is a substance, according to the Jaina philosophy, having many points in common with matter, which is another substance in existence, and differing in many points from it. Consciousness appertains to Spirit, not to matter, though in the condition of inpurity, all Spirits (souls) are found associated with material organisms. Spirit is a simple substance and not a compound, and for that reason is iin. inortal, while all things which are composite and compounded are perishable. On attaining complete freedom from inatter, Spirit becomes iinmortal.
A full, perfectly pure Spirit is omniscient, eternal, blissful, and also endowed with infinite energy. These attributes are not acquisitions from outside, nor ornaments put on for a time, but are the qualities of the Spirit substance. The true God should, therefore, be inmortal in His own right, allknowing, imineasurably happy and incapable of being swayed by any outside circumstance or force.
Divinity is free from sleep, stupor, drowsiness, laziness, boredom, affliction, pain or suffering of any kind whatsoever. A God should enjoy uninterruptable, unbroken illumination of full knowledge, and exhilaration of unsurpassed bliss at all times. He should have no duties or obligations to perform ; He should be above undertakings ; He should have no desire to be worshipped or to have His hymns chanted or His praises sung by men. He would not interfere in the affairs of men or inflict upon Himself the management of worlds, and He would not waste His time in creative activity in any form. A God should have no unfulfilled purpose, no unsatisfied cravings or ambitions ; and, for this reason, He would not inanage or create a world. Divinity in the Jaina view should ever be tranquil, unagitated, restful
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