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Jaina Answer to three Questions
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(2) Can God be realised ? If so, how, when and by what means ? (3) Is it absolutely necessary to have a preacher (Guru) for
realising God? The term Jainism is derived from the word "Jina" which means one who conquered the passion such as attachment, aversion, ignorance and attained absolute purity, perfection and Omniscience. In the dialogue between Vasiştha and Rāma, given in Yogaväsistha, Vairāgya Prakarana, Sarga 15, Rama referred Jina thus :
naham Ramo na me vāñcha, bhaveşu ca na me manah /
santimasthatumicchämisvõtmany eya jino yatha || “I am not Rama; I have no desire; my mind is not in any other subgtance; I only want to establish bliss in myself as of Jina." The faith or the belief propounded by such Jipa, from time to time since beginol. ngless time is known as Jainism. Shrimad Rajacandra, the spiritual gulde of Mahatma Gandhi, gave the name Satya Dharma also to this faith, when he states :
yatha hetu je cittaman satyadharmano uddhara re......
It is not a faith or religion of a particular time or of a particular race, caste, creed or community. Men of all the four classified commu. nities of ancient India -- Brāhmin, Kşatriya, Vaišya and Sudras - have followed this faith. It may be news to some that all the twenty-four Tirthankaras of Jaidas were Kşatriyas.
5. As this belief is non-sectarian in its true sense, the approach while replying the questions will also be non-secterlan, philosophic and religious, according to the teaching of the great saints and spiritual Masters like Ācārya Kundakunda, Yogendu, Pajyapada, Umāswäml. Amrtacandra etc. in the Sāsana (Tradition) of Lord Mahāyira, the last Tirthankara.
6. In order to appreciate the answers to the questions before us. In relation to Jainism, it is necessary to know, at least, bare outlines of some of the fundamental facts associated with it, for instance the fact about the conception of Universe. The Quiverse or the cosmos is a mass of six kinds of substances (Dravyas). They are Jiva (soul), Pudgala (matter), Dharmastikaya (medium of motion), Adharmastikaya (medium of rest). Akasa (Space) and Kala (Time). The essential nature of Jiva or soul jsCetana (knowledge. awareness). It is different from all the other five kinds of substances which are not characterised by Cetana. They are kbown as Ajīva in Jalna Metaphysics. The Akaša or the space substance
