________________
Śrimad's followers. I was permitted to observe and participate in their religious activities, and my persistent questioning was met with tireless patience. For all this I am extremely grateful.
śrīmad's philosophy centres around samyak darśana, the individual's experience of their own soul. He teaches that this may be attained by practising guru bhakti, devotion to a religious instructor who has already experienced samyak darśana. Followers are initially divided by their decision whether or not to devote to a living guru. Those who choose to offer devotion to a living guru are sub-divided further into a collection of independent "guru-centred" communities. These factors have combined to produce a movement which consists of individual followers, and communities of followers. These are neither affiliated to each other, nor to any general overseeing administrative body, yet collectively they form a distinct group within modern Jainism. Śrīmad's followers are consolidated by their devotion to śrīmad and so may be justifiably referred to as a distinct religious movement within Jainism. However, this movement has a diverse pattern of social organisation.
UNITY IN THE ŚRĪMAD RĀJACANDRA MOVEMENT
Devotion to śrīmad is the integral factor that unites all his followers and defines the śrīmad Rajacandra movement. During his lifetime Srimad displayed extraordinary qualities, some personal, some religious, for which he was considered worthy of veneration. He continues to be venerated posthumously as the central religious icon of the movement. To avoid a lengthy biographical discourse the factors that culminate his venerable status are summarised here into five points.
1. Followers believe Śrīmad achieved samyak darśana. This is the most important reason why he is worshipped as a religious icon. Jains ideally perform worship for soteriological rather than material benefits. The objective is to eventually acquire the same state as the object worshipped, for example the omniscience of a Jina. Jains worship Srimad in the hope of achieving samyak darśana, which is regarded as the crucial first step towards a Jain's ultimate religious goal of mokșa. They are following his religious instruction that the surest way to achieve
Jain Education International
For Private 34 ersonal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
