________________
70
THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF JAINISM
(1) Impermanence. There is impermanence of everything
surrounding one but there is unchanging soul beneath the changing body. Helplessness. We are helpless in the face of death but the
inner invisible force always lives. (3) Cycle of Rebirth. Liberation from the cycle of rebirth is
possible. Aloneness. There is the absolute solitude of each individual as he goes through this cycle and therefore one should
achieve dependence only on oneself. (5) Beyond Body. The soul and body are separate and we are
more than just corporeal. We must seek the true meaning of
life through the existence of the soul. (6) Impurity. How even the most physically attractive body
contains impurity. (7) Karmic Fusion. How karmic influx happens and how to
stand a part and watch the inflow. (8) Karmic Shield. How such influx may be stopped and how to
close the window when the storm, in the form of the Four
Passions, is about to come. (9) Total Karmic Decay. How karmic matter within the soul
may be shed so that the soul may be cleaned to move towards
permanent reality. (10) Universe. The universe is eternal and uncreated, hence each
person is responsible for his own salvation--for there is no
God to intervene. (11) Rarity of True Insight. True insight is rarely attained and
human embodiment bestows the rare privilege and
opportunity to attain moksa. (12) Truth of Jain Path. The truth of the teachings of the
Tirthankaras which leads to the goal of eternal peace
through understanding one's own true nature. 5. Afflictions' Mastery: Mastery over afflictions consists of over twenty typical hardships which should be meditated upon, examples are hunger, thirst, cold, heat, insect bites and ridicule.
Table 8.1 gives a summary of various practices under different purification stages.
Note that the Three Restraints, the Five Watchfulnesses, the Ten Righteousnesses, etc are only guidelines for lay men to give insight into possible procedures and they are not in general habitually carried out and even when they are, not always to perfection. The layman may carry out some of these (such as fasting on special days). However, the monk is expected at all times to follow these guidelines
