Book Title: Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas
Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

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Page 193
________________ 160 RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS of previously, (this knot is not cut while in the state of mithyātva.) Granthi-bhedin, those who have cut it. Abhavya, those who will not reach liberation. Bhavya, those who will reach it. This table is read upwards, thus : there are abhavya living beings and bhavya living beings, but they are both granthi-abhedin; there are granthi-abhedin living beings and granthi-bhedin living beings, but they are both mithyātvin; there are mithyātvin living beings and samyaktvin living beings, but they are both aviratin, and so on up to the top.... There are samsārin living beings and siddha living beings, but they are both living beings. As already mentioned all progress depends upon samyaktva, samyaktva having been described as the control of the three darśana-mohaniya karmas and the four anantānubandhis. Concentration and philosophy proper cannot be exercised until this state called samyaktva is obtained. Signs of Samyaktva If you are in the state of samyaktva then you will have certain very definite convictions concerning three principles, namely, the principle of the Deity, the principle of Teacher (Guru) and the principle of Dharma (right life, duty). Deity The Deity, as understood in system of philosophy, is the highest ideal that we keep before the mind, and with the object that we may ultimately become like him. It does not mean a Deity who issues laws that must be obeyed, or a creator of the universe. One must have an ideal, an ideal manhood, that he wishes to attain to; and if not to be attained in the body as was by the Master, still to be reached in the liberated state where all persons are in a state of equality. The attaining to this ideal will be the aim and end of all the actions during life, and so if we get a wrong ideal man, then in trying to become so we lead wrong lives. The ideal man should be called the Deity (Deva). The Deity (Deva) is a person living as a human being in the midst of his brothers and sisters, not his children. There are millions of Devas (The Türthankaras, the Arhats, the Masters) who were such men, being Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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