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96
TIRTHANKARA MAHAVIRA AND HIS SARVODAYA TIRTHA
The Science of Differentiation
In the attainment of right faith, apart from the seven fundamentals and respect for the true gods, texts and gurus, the third essential ingradient is the science of differentiation. In the Jaina texts, its importance has been said to be inconceivable. It has been said that so far all those who have attained perfection have done so with the help of this science; and those who have allowed themselves to be condemned to non-ending movements have done so because of ignorance of this science.76 The understanding about the purity of the soul helps to check the influx of karma, and the understanding about the purity of the same is derived from the science of differentiation, because of which this science acquires exceptional significance. This science has to be mastered and cultivated till one is fully separated from the rest and concentrated in self.78
The doctrine of differentiation is a sharp weapon which helps one to know the difference between the animate and the inanımate, between own nature and nature of the rest One who has this awakened in his heart never relishes the company of others. They have a feel of the soul which gives them prepetual joy and they very well know the nature of the great soul, Paramatman
The science of differentiation stands for a knowledge of the self as distinct from the rest. The distinction is between self and others and so it is also called the science of differentiation between self and others, or it may also be called the science of self, and in this it is essential to know one's own soul as distinct from the rest
The main emphasis in the science of differentiation is not to know the two to be similar, nor to know them separately, but to know the self as distinct from the rest. It is essential to know others in order to reject them and to know the self to
76 bhedavijnanatah siddhah siddha ye kila kecana
as yaivabhavato baddha baddha ye kila kecana 77 Ibid, Kalaša, 129 78 Ibid , Kalaša, 130
-Samayasara, Kalaša, 131
