Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

Page 47

14
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS
the body? This unifying entity that is in every living thing is what the Aryans call the Atman, the soul. All living beings, therefore, are atman, material body not mixed up in a mechanical way as water and sugar are in syrup, but both of them phenomenally acting upon each other and creating important changes in each other. The similarity then between an animal and a human being lies in the fact that both are susceptible to hunger, sleep, fear and animal passions, but that which constitutes the special characteristic of the human being is that he can practise dharma, i.e., understand, realise and bring into operation the spiritual law of the universe which teaches him how to control his lower nature and bring into prominence the higher one. The human being is a dharmika (=religious) being.
How has he reached this stage? In one word, through the Law of Sacrifice. The first beginning of consciousness is made through the body and while in the lowest life there is only the body without organs of sense, even then, the finer the body is, the greater is the sensitiveness. The increase in consciousness and elevation in type take place by reason of the grosser being sacrificed and the subtler coming into prominence. This does not necessarily take place in all beings. Not even the tiniest animalcule can elevate itself to the higher stage of life unless and until voluntarily or involuntarily it throws off the impurities and gathers the subtler forces. Involuntarily this is done even by human beings. A low man living in a cultured family unconsciously gives up much of his gross nature and brings himself up to the polished physical level of those with whom he lives. Domesticated animals are the best illustration of this law of sacrifice. And in all such cases, with giving up of lower nature, the individual souls become equipped with finer forces that they can use for reaching greater heights.
Now the student of humanity observing the different mental conditions of different men and women finds them divided into three classes. The lowest are those who are gross, immoral, sluggish and ignorant; the middle class consisting of men and