Jinamanjari 2001 04 No 23

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

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CONCLUSION/RESUME
1. Though the significance of a sadguru or master in respect of disciples self-realization is acknowledged in the Jain tradition, śrīmad Rājacandras emphasis on the same is unique in the history of Jainism. It is probably due to the influence of non-Jain Indian schools of philosophy and religion such as Vedānta, Vaişnavism etc. on him. It is true that in this life he did not have any sadguru. He was a self-awakened and a self-enlightened mystic. However, he all the while stressed that he was able to realize his self mainly due to his extraordinary memory of his past life, in which he had a sadguru.
2. Śrīmad opines that a Jina or Tirthankara is the parama guru, or the supreme master. His teaching as embodied in the Jain canonical literature is parama śruta, or the supreme scripture. In the absence of a Jina the canonical literature serves the purpose of causing self-realization. A Jina belongs to the 13th spiritual stage, called sayoga kevali. This stage is equivalent to what is known as the jīvana mukta. The association with a Jina is called parama satsanga, or the supreme religious assembly. But in his absence a sadguru or a monk belonging to the 6th spiritual stage, called pramatta samyata, or restraint of carelessness, or the 7ti spiritual stage called apramatta samyata, can very well play the role of the sadguru. His preaching then assumes the role of sacred scripture. The association with him is designated as a satsanga.
3. śrīmad uses the terms jñānī and satpurusa as synonymous of the term sadguru.
4. The guidance of the sadguru is needed for disciples of the 4th spiritual stage of right faith or perception up to the 12ch stage of annihilated passions (kşīņa kasāya) only.
5. In his unique way, Srimad ascribes new meaning to well-known means of liberation such as jñāna mārga and bhakti mārga. According to him, devotion to a sadguru is bhakti märga and reflection on his preaching is vicāra mārga or jñāna mārga. śrīmad gives precedence to the bhakti mārga over the jñāna märga and karma mārga.
6. The sadguru is the nimitta käraņa, or auxiliary cause, for his disciple's ascension on the path of liberation, while a
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