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STUDIES IN JAINISM
Mortification of the body is equally onesided. Even for a monk, rigorous asceticism is only a means to the end of selfrealisation. A citizen has his occupation, has a family and he performs all the duties and obligations of a citizen. Even a recluse has to take interest in the activities of the world like social and
lical activities if it is to contribute to the increase of righteousness. As we have seen carlier, the Jaina Ācāryas guided the destinies of the states and even helped the kings in establishing dyanasties as the activity was to promote the social and spiritual good of the people.
The ultimate ideal of a Jaina is self-realisation. The self to be realised is the higher self. The lower self is not to be sacrificed, but to be sublimated and transcended.
The Jaina View of life need not be considered as pessimistic nor is it merely optimistic. It exhorts us to strive for perfection in a world which is imperfect. That is possible through selfeffort, and not through the grace of any higher deity. The Buddha also advised his disciples to seek their own salvation. The Jaina Weltanschauung is melioristic.
NOTES
I. Indian Philosophical Quarterly. Vol. II, 1. Oct. 1974-Jaina ethics pp. 71. 2. Tattvarta-sutra : J. i. 3. Ratnakarandaka Sravakacara : Samantabhadra. - Caritracihikara 4. Jaina Yoga : R. William. Oxfrd. Univ. Press. pp. 41. 5. Based on the analyses in Jaina Yoga with modifications. 6. Jaina View of Life : T. G. Kalghatgi. Jivaraj Granthamala. pp. 172 7. Ratnakarandaka Sravakacara : Caritradhikara. 8. Young India. August. 1920 : Doctrine of the Sword. 9. Jaina View of Life : pp. 215. 10. Yasastokalaka Edt. by Handiqui, 334-337. 11. Sutrakrtanga : 1. 12. Young India : December, 1922. 13. Indian Philosophy : S. Radhakrishnan. : Vol. I (1941) pp. 52 14. Reason and Goodness : Blanshard. pp. 68. 15. Uttaradhyayan-sutra : XXV. 41-43.
