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A JAIN VIEW OF DEATH, CARE OF THE DYING AND
BEREAVEMENT
Dr. Nalubhai Shah
particles and which grows with the help of the soul, while the corpse, which is made of matter, gradually disintegrates in Pudgala. These Pudgala may form the body of another soul. The soul, because of its Karmic power, attracts these particles.
Good Karmas make a better body whereas poor Karmas may make a lowly body.
Birth and death are natural phenomena for a human being, and Jain philosophy explains these aspects and helps the dying person to take death in their stride.
The soul (Jiva) is the one unchanging element in the living being. It may be embodied in any of the four broad categories of existence - as heavenly being, human, in animal or plant form, or as a denizen of the hells. Until the soul is purified and sheds all the Karmas attached to it, the type of being in which the soul is reborn - the shape, form, colour, longevity, etc, of the body it occupies - depends upon its Karma. Whatever we do, whatever we speak, whatever we think and whichever manner these activities are done, attract different Karmic particles in intensity, quality and quantity. If these Karmic particles are mild in character, they are dissociated from the soul by feeling sorry or asking for forgiveness. If they are strong in intensity and character, they remain attached to the soul, until they ripen, which may happen in a short time or after thousands of years. High-intensity Karmic particles are removed by experiencing their effects, but low-intensity ones can be removed by austerity and living a noble life. Karmas are like bank balances. If they are good (merit). one enjoys their fruition until they are exhausted. If they are bad (demerit), one suffers from misery Jain scriptures have described 168 different kinds of Karmas in detail and have explained the causes of the happiness, misery, good health, suffering and apparent inequality of this world. If some person is doing bad deeds but is still enjoying a good life (of material wealth), it is due to fruition of good Karmas in past lives, but his soul is collecting demerit because of bad deeds and he will have to suffer its effect in the future. When all the karmas are shed, the soul is purified and remains in its natural blissful state.
Once a follower of Jainism understands this philosophy, he is never afraid of death. He sees that the process of dying is like changing the house. Nothing is yours. Even the body is not yours since sooner or later everybody has to go, leaving everything behind. Hence a follower of Jainism gradually leaves all attachment to worldly possessions, living beings and even his body. When someone is dying, all the Jain leaders, relatives or family members in this country give them solace by explaining this philosophy. In India, sometimes monks and nuns go to see the dying person. Many community members also come to see the dying person, which is a constant source of support. They sing hymns, Navkar Mantra - a hymn for surrendering to the liberated and detached souls. They also explain the temporary nature of this body and all worldly attachments. A dying person would like to have, during this crucial period of dying, noble thoughts, forgiveness for anything they have done wrong during their life and to forgive all the beings who have done wrong to them, and have a peaceful death.
Because of the community and family support, and an understanding of the philosophy of life and death, the dying person requires fewer pain killing drugs and tranquillisers. After death, the body is cremated and the whole community comes to the crematorium. For 3 to 7 days after the cremation, community members go to the bereaved's house and give them all possible support. They sing hyinns explaining the temporary nature of the body, and they try to pray for the peace and permanent bliss of the soul of the person who has died. The bereaved family are cared for by the community for their day to day needs and, if somebody requires help - financial or otherwise - the community try to provide for them. Hardly any bereaved person takes tranquillising drugs. If somebody is dying in hospital, relations and family, or Jain leaders, come to visit them. They give sympathy and encourage the dying person to have noble thoughts. Most of the time, he is encouraged to chant Navkar Mantra and other chantings.
Until liberated, the destiny of living beings is constant transition from one physical body to another, a recurring cycle of birth and death and rebirth. We have all of us passed through countless lives in the past, and we face countless more lives in the future. Jains believe that the universe is made up of 6 basic elements - Jiva (soul), Ajiva (space), Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of stasis), Time and Pudgala (matter) - of which the main are living (Jiva) and non-living (Pudgala) matter particles. When we die, the soul (Jiva) rises and occupies a body which is formed by fusion of Pudgala or matter
Namo arihantanam I devote myself to the enlightened souls
Namo siddhanam I devote myself to the liberated souls
36 Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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