Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 63

VAISHALÍ RESEARCH BULLETIN NÓ,
Nevertheless, in the words of S.C. Ghoshal, The advancement of the soul is the end which the author always keeps in view, and it is in this light that he has summarised the precepts of ( ancient ) Jaina Acharyas on this point in the Gommatasara. The work, in very brief limits, comprises most of the important tenets of Jaina philosophy, and proceeds to lay down the way and means to liberation, warning us against the hindrances and obstacles to the same.'( Introd. to SBJ V).
As a matter of fact, the spiritual stages and soul-quests, with their multiple inter-connections and minute details, as expounded in the Gommatasara, really exhaust the stand points from which souls in the universe may be viewed. The matter-mad and mammon-worshipping world tends to blind itself to Truth, but the sign-posts on the path to it, though deserted and neglected, still shine with their eternal splendour and are unerring guides to the soul which understands and realises its Self and cares to tread the hard and lonely but sure path to freedom unending and bliss everlasting. The omniscient Jins knew, experienced, realised and had full and firm grasp of the Eternal Principles of Life, which were eventually embodied in their teachings, represented by what remai. ns of the original Jaina canonical knowledge and the numerous works, including Goinmatasara, which are based on or derived from that body of knowledge.
Again, to quote J. L. Jaini, 'In Religion and Philosophy there is no greater concept than soul, and in the whole world there is no greater phenomenon than Life. This book throws a flood of light on the question of living beings as we know them, and how they may reach their ideal.Nirvana. The whole picturesque and endless variety of life-physical, mental and emotional life is the universe, in the effect and summation of infinite ways in which the Living unites with Non-living. The attainment of the cherished goal is obviously impos. sible wishout knowing fully well and realising the essential nature of Soul (life, living substance or animate objects) and Non-soul (non-living substance, inanimate objects, or matter ), and their mutual relationships, actions and reactions. The soul finds itself living in bondage with matter from beginningless time, and it cannot attain its own pure, perfect Self, unless it becomes completery and absolutely free from that bondage. This is the theme of Gommatasara.
We need not go into a detailed exposition of the contents of the work, but may diseuss briefly certain relevant points connected with this work, some of which have been subject of controversies among present day scholars. Author
The author of Gommtasara is Nemichandra Siddhanta-chakra