________________
122
Concept of Niśreyas in Jain Philosophy
Muni Mahendra Kumar
Before we discuss the concept of Nisreyas, we have to understand the fundamental theories of the Jain philosophy. The Jain Philosophy propounds the theory of soul as an independent entity, having real existence, which has no beginning and end. As its existence is beginningless, so is its relation with the karmapudgal, which is another independent reality. Whereas soul is non-physical, karma-pudgal is physical. Both co-exist with each other. Karma-pudgal which is responsible for keeping the soul in bound state and making it undergo a continues rotation in the world from one form of existence to another through transmigration or in the cycle of birth and death. The soul, which through its own efforts can make itself free from the bondages of karma-pudgal, attains the state which is called mokṣa or niśreyas. Once the moksa is attained, the soul remains forever in that state, and the cycle of birth and death totally ceases. The reason that moksa is an everlasting condition is that there remains no more and no cause of its rebirth.
Jain Education International
-
In the state of moksa, the soul is free from all bondages of karma which used to veil its innate qualities of infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss and infinite energy. Therefore, the soul which is now called siddha-ätmā, is possessed of infinite knowledge, etc. The following eight qualities are enumerated -
(1) Infinite knowledge or omniscience
(2) Infinite perception/intuition.
(3) Freedom from physical pain & pleasure.
For Private & Personal Use Only
(4) Infinite bliss or absorption in the self (atma-ramana) (5) Bodilessness.
तुलसी प्रज्ञा अंक 118
www.jainelibrary.org
