Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

Page 128

FAINA MYSTICISM
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Mysticism consists in attaining to Parādrsti (transcendental insight) through Sthírā (steady spiritual insight), Kāntā and Prabhā Drstis (elementary and deep meditational insights) after passing through Mitrā, Tārā, Balā, and Diprā? Distis.2 All these definitions of mysticism are fundamentally the same. Paramātman refers to Arhat-hood, Siddha-hood, Parādrșți, and the state of Vịttisamks ya; Antarātman points to Samyagdarśana, Sthirādrşti, and Samyagdrste; and consequently to Samyagjñāna, Samyakcārtra, the state of Cantrī and the kāntā and Prabhā DỊştis; Bahirātman, refers to Mithyadarśana the state of Apunarbhandaka along with Mitrā, Tārā, Bala and Diprā Džșțis and consequently to Mithyā jñāna, and Mithyācārtra.
Thus we may say that the Paramātman is the true goal of the, mystic quest. The journey from the Antarātman to the Paramātman is traversed through the medium of moral and intellectual preparations, which purge everything obstructing the emergence of potential divinity. Before this final accomplishment, a stage of vision and fall may intervene. Thus the whole mystic way be put as follows: (1) Awakening of the transcendental self, (2) Purgation, (3) Illumination, (4) Dark-night of the soul, and (5) Transcendental life. According to Underhill, "Taken all together they constitute the phases in a single process of growth, involving the movement of consciousness from lower to higher levels of reality, the steady remaking of character in accordance with the "independent spiritual world”3. But the Jaina tradition deals 1. The type of enlightenment accruing from eight Drsțis may respectively
be compared to the type of light given out by the sparks of straw fire. cow-dung fire, wood fire, the light of a lamp, the lustre of a gem, the light of a star, the light of the sun, and the light of the moon. (Yogadrstisamuccaya 15) Thus it varies from the indistinct enlightenment to the most distinct one. The first four D93țis (Muira, Tārā, Balā, Diprà) occur in the stage of Apunarbandhaka (Mithyādssti in transition) hence they are unsteady, while the last four, in the stages of Samyagdt stı and
Caritri, hence they are steady. 2. Yogad? stisamyaccaya, 13, 19,178. 3. Mysticism by Underhill, P. 169 (Methuen, London) M.M.-16