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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
166
Atman And Moka
austere physical and moral practices in the form of Yoga; nevertheless it gives supreme importance to knowledge which is synonymous with enlightenment. Sir Monier Williams calls it 'intellectual enlightenment'. He writes —“It is certainly true that the main idea implied by Buddhism is intellectual enlightenment. Buddhism, before all things, means enlightenment of mind, resulting from intense selfconcentration and introspection, from intence abstract meditation, confined with the exercise of a man's own reasoning faculties and intuitions."! The Buddhists regard knowledge as the real means of attaining Nirvāņa.
Th. Stcherbatsky describes knowledge as a means of overcoming illusion. He writes --"Illusion is neutralised by philosophic insight, but the decisive and final step which stops empirical life for ever and transfers the individual into the Absolute is achieved by Yoga, i.e. by that mystical power which is produced by absorption in intense concentrated meditation."? The Buddhists not only recognised the efficacy of philosophic knowledge but also adopted the Yogic practices as supplementary methods for * reaching the final state of Nirvāṇa, They recognised the necessity of physical postures, abstinence, tole. rance, equanimous attitude, self-control, concentra. tion and meditation as powerful means of attaining Nirvāņa. The Buddhists were very rigid moralists.
Williams-Monier Monier : Buddhism, p. 544.
* Stcherbatsky Th. : The Conception of Buddhism Nirvana, p. 56.
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