YJA Convention 1996 07 San Francisco CA Second

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 74

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Duties of Individuals (Caste Systems)
Priests-intellectuals (Brahmins)
- establish and preserve the national ideas and philosophy
Rulers and warriors (Kshatriyas)
Duties at various stages of Life:
- preparative period
- worldly success: wealth, fame and power
Student life Householder life Retirement life - satisfaction of service to community and fellow man Renunciation life - renunciation of possessions and family for realization of
true self.
Shramana System ( Buddhism and Jainism)
God - Not a Creator
Humans are capable to achieve the highest spiritual state (God) Human experience or self realization is the ultimate authority Scriptures have no authority (guide)
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- to protect the state from external aggression and establish internal order Merchants and artisans (Vaishyas)
- for the production of national wealth Sudras: to do the menial work
Buddhism:
The Supreme is completely transcendent and can be described as; Sunya (zero), a void, an emptiness, state of non-being.
At nirvan, being turns into a state of non-being/emptiness/void/Sunya. Being looses its identity and becomes nothing.
In Samsar (world) a being is a combination of physical and mental
forces/energies.
Primary path
- Path of Knowledge (Jnan Yoga)
- Realization of unique and supreme self through knowledge Self control, non-violence, penance, and meditation
Revolt against Hindu caste distinction, and fancy rituals
Non-Vedic System Non-ritualistic
No animal sacrifice
No caste system
Desire "thirst" to be and to become is the root cause of suffering and rebirth. Life's aim is to end suffering through Nirvana or Samadhi, which is passionless peace, perfect insight, enlightenment, perfect knowledge, immortality. In Samadhi the future vanishes, the past vanishes, one lives at the present
moment.
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