Schools and Sects in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Amulyachandra Sen
Publisher: Vishwa Bharati Calcutta

Page 16

SCHOOLS AND SECTS IN JAINA LITERATURE
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man suffers he did not cause it. By the will of fate all beings are born, are made to suffer changes of life or to die."24
Adda's discussions with various teachers, while renouncing the life of a Prince lie was on his way to Mahāvīra, are interesting. In these discussions one man states that if an ascetic living alone uses cold water, eats seeds, accepts things prepared for him or has intercourse with women, he comunits no sins thereby.25 Harşakula, author of the Dipikā on the Sūtrakytānga, and Silāņka identify this man as Gosāla which is corroborated by the fierce personal attacks he makes on Mahāvīra in course of the discussions. This is natural enough, for the relations between the two were notoriously bitter. The fact, however, appears to be that the Ajīviya doctrines have been put forward through this fictitious person.
The soul of him who is pure will become free from bad karman on reaching beatitude, but in that state it will again become defiled through pleasant excitement or hate; and that he who has lived on earth as a restrained monk will become free from karman, and as clear water which was free from defilement again becomes defiled, so will be the soul. This doctrine has been attributed to a school. Harşakula thinks that the Ajīviyas are meant. Silānka mentions the Trairāśikas besides Ājiviyas. The Trairāsikas are the Jaina followers of the Vaiseșika philosophy.26 They are so called because they believed in a third state of existence besides jiva and ajiva.?
In soine places the Ājiviyas are mentioned by name but hardly anything is mentioned regarding their views.28 Once we find them asking the Nirgrantha elders the question whether an article belonging to a young monk belongs to himself or to another, if it is stolen by a thief wlieu the young ascetic is observing the sāmāyikas and the monk goes after the theif.29 They are said not to accept Mahāvīra's doctrine of abstention from sin of body, mind and speech in the three-fold divisions of doing it oneself, getting it done by another, or approving of another's doing it.30
On the life of Gosāla we have the following details supplied by the Jainas. His father was called Maņkhali who used to wander about from
** Süt.S. 11.1.30-99. as Ibid. II.vi. 7. ** SBE.xlv. p. 245, 11.2. * See infra the sixth schism led by Rohagupta. 21 Bhag. 1.2.24. * Bhag. 8.5.928. " Bhag. 8.5.929.