Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 205

Traverses on less trodden path...
indeterminate Brahman. The state of Jina is the state of Nirvana, eternal bliss. Nirvana is nothing but the realisation of one's own Atman. It is the realisation of pure knowledge which is indescribable in terms of human language. In this state, Atman is neither gross, neither male nor female nor neuter; neither heavy nor light. It is a formless state of pure absolute consciousness. It is a body that is affected by birth, old age, disease, agony and death. Atman is pure spirit and untouched by all these. Thus attachment to everything including the body has to be given up. It is on account of enjoyment of worldly objects through senses and the mind, that Karmic particles enter the soul and the individual self to the wheel of mundane life. Realising the unreality of the sense-objects enjoyment and the separateness of the Atmam from the material body, one can attain real peace. Attachment and aversion are the root causes of Karmabandha. They are very powerful enemies on the path of spiritual progress. Thus, attachment and aversion, have to be avoided. Duality thy name is samsara (=mundane life). Llberation - the state of immortality is the non-dual state, free from all kinds of dualities. One has to reach from duality to non-duality, from lower to bigher. The real is above all duality and is beyond speech and intellect. It can be realised only in the innermost self of all.
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The rigerous path of conduct preached by Jina is very difficult to follow in these days of Kali. The contemporary environments are not favourable for practice of code of conduct. So, unflinching devotion towards Jina alone work as a boat to cross over the ocean of mundane life. It is Jina's feet which will make one's free from the cycle of births and deaths and bestow liberation. Even recitation of this hymn which is written in praise of Jina will lead one to the permanent abode of bliss.
Our author Padmanandi seems to be powerfully influenced by the Vedantic thought. Many statements made in this work remind us of some Upanisadic passages. While describing the nature of Atman and the state of liberation, he speaks, just almost in the Upanisadic tone. Upanisad states that on knowing Brahman or Atman, everything else becomes known and everything is attained. 82 Padmanandi speaks in just similar way (v. 5). Atman is the only Reality, everything is unreal (angta,) says one Upanisad.8% Padmanandi also tells us in a similar way that, Atman is the only Reality and everything else is worthless (V-4). Again, the Upanisads conceived Brahman as beyond thought,
32 (a) Mundaka Upanisad I-II-3. (b) Ibid-III-II-9.
33 Chandogya Upanisad-III-XIV-1.