Mahavira His Life and Teachings

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Luzac and Co UK

Page 72

TEACHINGS
65
He had mastered all philosophical systems, and practised control as long as he lived. All that is the best in nature and the highest in the world serves as a point of comparison, and yet he remains incomparable and unsurpassed."
The 'distant end'? or ultimate object of Jainism, as taught by Mahāvīra, is Nirvāṇa which 'consists in peace's Nirvāṇa is just another name of moksa or liberation, muktı or deliverance. The liberation is not anything unreal, but the best thing' This is no false assertion to declare that there is such a thing as liberation, which can be realized by man in the highest condition of aloofness and transcendentality of himself As Gautama, a disciple of Mahāvīra, explained to Keśī, a disciple of Pārśva, ‘There is a safe place in view of all, but difficult of approach, where there is no old age, nor death, no pain nor disease'.
It is what is called Nirvana, or freedom from pain, or perfection, which is in view of all; it is the safe, happy, and quiet place which the great sages reach. This is the eternal place, in view of all, but difficult of approach.'. If it is liberation,
Sūtrakrtānga, I, 6, Jaina-Sūtras, Pt II, pp. 287-292. 2 Ibid , I, 8 18 , Jaina-Sūtras, II, p 299. 3 Ibid , I, II. II. 4 Ibid , 1, 10. 12. 5 Uttarādhyayana, XXIII, 81-84, Jaina-Sūtras, II, p. 128.