Nature of Salvation

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Z_Gems_of_Jainism_001803.pdf

Page 9

Nature of Salvation
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bondage. We have seen that the cause of Samsara or the suffering is the Karma. The soul being polluted due to Karma is in bondage of Karma. We have seen the reasons for the bondage of Karma. The reason behind all the different causes is ignorance or nescience.
With this much preliminary, informative and brief note of the Soul in state of Bondage we will try to understand: 'Soul in state of Release' (liberation), and 'the Nature of Libcration in Jainism Soul in State of Liberation;
First let us talk about Moksa - liberation in general in Indian Philosophy. In Indian Philosophy all the schools talk about liberation (Moksa). Every school starts with Ināna (Knowledge) and ends with Moksa (liberation of the soul). The ultimate goal of life is Moksa - Every system has its own philosophy (or Science) of liberation
Indian philosophy talks about Four Purusharthas - Artha (wealth), Kama (Desire), Dharma (Duty - Responsibility) and Moksa (Liberation). In these four, the Moksa is considered to be the last & final one. Thus Moksa or liberation becomes the ultimate goal of life in Indian Philosophy. The moment we talk about liberation we have to talk about the bondage. To all, the bondage is due to ignorance or nescience. The suffering - the Sansara - the cycle of births and rebirths all these are due to Bondage of the soul -due to Karına. Every school talks about the absolute release from the bondage - the total freedom - emancipation or liberation. For the total freedom one has to transcend from ignorance to knowledge, from darkness to light and so from mortality to immortality. In short the freedom from suffering is through knowledge. All the schools of India Philosophy say that knowledge is the only way. But to them all, the meaning of knowledge that leads to liberation is different. Here they differ: The liberation is possible hy attaining:
According to Jainism: Absolute knowledge (Keval Ināna), According to Buddhism: Metaphysics or Philosophical knowledge (Tattvajnāna)