Book Title: Some Aspects of Indian Culture
Author(s): A S Gopani, Nagin J Shah, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Page 137
________________ 128 Some Aspects of Indian Culture wants some things, luxury many, avarice all things. (3; 88). There is no enemy greater and no foe more fierce tban these four passions each of which even destroys the aspirant's initiative and ardour to bring out fully his spiritual potentiality and property-concludes Guņapāla. (11) Six Entities and Nine Categories Guņapāla, in accordance with the Jaina scriptures, states that there are nine categories, namely, Soul (jiva), Non-Soul (a jiva), Merit (punya ), Demerit (papa ), Karmic Influx (aśrava), Karmic Stoppage (samvara), Karmic Shedding (nir jara), Bondage (bandha) and Liberation (mokşa). Jivas are classified into liberated and mundane. The mundane are again subdivided into many classes and species. Consciousness (upayoga) is the distinguishing characteristic of the Jivas. Principle of Motion (dharma), Principle of Stability (adharma), Matter, soul, Time and Ether are the six Entities .(16 772-783). (12) Time There are six epochs in an aeon of decrease such as the epoch of Total Happi. ness (susamasusama); of Happiness (susama); of Happiness mixed with Unhappiness (susamadusama), of Unhapinessp mixed with Happiness(dusamasusama), of Unhappiness (dusama) and of Total Happiness (dusamadusama). Happiness reigns supreme in the first and goes on decreasing till in the last there is only total unhappiness (6, page 72; lines 5 to 23). Summary Right Faith is the sine qua non of emancipation which should be the aim and end of all beings. This Right Faith means that the life, birth, death, world, body, sensual pleasures etc. etc. instead of serving any one in any way, only block the path leading to salvation, that they have got to be completely dispensed with and that one should remain absorbed in his own soul which is an abode of bliss, pure and perennial. All souls have an equal clajm on emancipation. There is no denial to this. There is no distinction of caste, colour, and creed. One may get it early while the other late, this being dependent on one's own Karmic store. His progress is regulated by his spiritual potentialities. Anyhow the Karmic flow is to be stopped and the old Karmas are to be annihilated. The balance restored after this is emancipation. Thus it is upto one whether he wants to be doomed or delivered. It has been shown in the preceding paragraphs how one should discipline himself so that his hands may be strengthened. Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right conduct are the three jewels which if once procured and preserved with care will enrich and equip the soul with unfailing spiritual armoury with which to fight and finish his Karmic enemies The above is the outline of the religious and moral element as enunciated and emphasized by Guņapala in the Jambucariyam (JO). Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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