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etc., due to observing restrained conduct and undertaking auspicious activities of mercy, kindness, compassion, charity, etc., but is could not reach the ultimate destination of liberation. It is so because as it gave up the sinful activities of violence, lying, stealing, etc.,, it did not give up the meritorious activities of kindness, charity, etc.,. It did not consider the auspicious activities as hindering liberation. It is because of this false belief that it could never go beyond the Navagraiveyaka heavens and was prevented from reaching the ultimate destination of liberation. Not to give up the meritorious acts as hindering liberation is the reason for this lack of supreme attainment.
Answer - According to Jaina precept sin is what causes spiritual downfall, which defiles the spirit and which results in painful experiences. Merit or punya is what uplifts the soul, which purifies it and which results in pleasurable experiences and which subsides the pain. To consider the means of uplifting the soul as a hindrance in the attainment of liberation is a gross insult to the Jaina scriptures. According to the Jaina precepts and the principles of karma theory an increase in merit results in the destruction of sinful karma types. As a rule, the soul purifying practices of restraint, renunciation and penance and compassion result in merit or punya. If gaining of punya be considered as hindering the attainment of liberation, we would have to consider the soul purifying practices of restraint, renunciation and penance and compassion also as deplorable. In order to get rid of merit we will have to abandon the soul purifying practices of restraint, renunciation and penance and compassion whereas in the Jaina scriptures these very practices have been said to be the means of attaining liberation.
Therefore, the belief that merit is a hindrance in the attainment of liberation is against the Jaina canonical dictates and the principles of karma theory. It can only strengthen false belief. According to the doctrine of karma when a spiritual aspirant climbs the destructional ladder and gains omniscience he also bonds the highest intensity of the meritorious karmic subtypes, which remain with him right till the end
Positive Non-Violence
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