Sumati Jnana

Author(s): Shivkant Dwivedi, Navneet Jain
Publisher: Shantisagar Chhani Granthamala

Page 37

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Putting cloths on body seems as if evils of nature are being covered.'
If not in totality, one can certainly minimize the possessiveness, but it is also necessary to develop the sense of detachment towards things. Only minimizing physical items does not mean to have non-possessiveness. It is a process of healthy abstinence. Proper and wise use of belongings can lead to non-possessiveness. It is important to mention that nudity of body is the self-cause of origin. It is necessary to possess mental nudity along with physical. If the external nudity would be the cause of liberation or emancipation than all animals, birds etc. of the world would have achieved it due to nudity for entire life. Monks of some other sects also lead nude life but they only observe external nudity.
Sumati-Jñāna
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In Jain philosophy four passions (Anger, pride, crookedness and greed), misbelief and nine Quasi passion (Nokasaya) have been considered the components of internal possessiveness. This is really very deep and refined concept, mentioned nowhere in other philosophies. Jain monks continuously remain in practice of eliminating internal possessiveness through meditation, devotion and spiritual attitude.
Only eliminating clothes and turning nude does not mean to be a perfect sky clad monk or Digambar Muni. It starts by rejecting attachment and enmity. Conquering and controlling the sense organs (Indriya) is considered the nudity in true sense. All kinds of attachments are broken down in this stage. Rejecting any thing does not mean developing any enmity but also not having any attachment.
Popular foreign scholar Mrs. Stevenson writes in her book 'Heart of Jainism' that "Being rid of clothes is also rid a lot of other worries. No water is needed in which to wash them. The Nirgranths have forgotten all knowledge good and evil, why should they require clothes to hide their nakedness." A nude becomes a natural which is self made not imposed. Many people have misconception regarding nudity, that it may be due to poverty, homelessness, insanity or any other compulsion. In reality, the nudeness is a state of richness which one achieves through perfect knowledge and self will. A simple nudity may seem to be a vulgarity but the nudeness of a Jain monk is not like that. It gives the message of detachmentness and transparency in all acts. There lies an intricate relationship between nudity and restraint or self-control. Deletion of character and restraints from nudity leads to obscene while addition of triple gems i. e. Ratnatraya (Right perception, Right knowledge and Right character) take on the path of salvation i. e. Moksha and illuminate entire humanity. Bondage of nudity with passionless attitude again forms an excellent and rare personality.
It may be a rare and difficult instance when one is able to see his own nudity, which is not simply and nakedness but a sense of detachment externally and internally. To see it a lot of efforts are to be made. To visualize the illumination of self-nudity all layers of possessiveness and attachments are to be removed.
Nudity: The path of development
By accepting nudity, Jain monks continuously proceed towards self-consciousness, self