Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates 鈥楴ine Tattvas (2): The concept of Ajiva (non-soul)鈥� of the study on the concept of Mysticism in Jainism exploring key concepts such as Jaina metaphysics and Jain ethics. The present research is divided into six chapters, beginning with an introduction to mysticism, examining its characteristics from both Western and Eastern perspectives. Subsequent chapters delve into the mystical aspects of Brahmanic and Shramanic literature, analyzing texts from the Shvetambara and Digambara traditions to unearth traces of Jain mysticism.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Nine Tattvas (2): The concept of 础箩墨惫补 (non-soul)
[Full title: Nine Tattvas: Journey of Soul towards 惭辞办峁 (2) 础箩墨惫补]
1 Definition and Nature of Tattva
The 箩墨惫补 is in the state of bondage due to its association with a箩墨惫补 i.e. non-soul. To attain the pure soul and release from bondage one needs to have the knowledge of the nature of a箩墨惫补, its impact on the 箩墨惫补, its relation with 箩墨惫补 and then abandon the a箩墨惫补.
Jainism is the philosophy of realism and existentialism. According to it that what exists is a substance[1] or that which is characterised by origination, destruction and persistence is substance[2] or that which is substratum of attributes and modes is substance[3].
Jaina philosophy is dualistic in nature, as it accepts the independent existence of two realities:
- 闯墨惫补,
- 础箩墨惫补[4].
础箩墨惫补 is non-conscious substance[5]. There are five types of a箩墨惫补鈥�
They are further categorised into two鈥�Rupi (corporeal) and Arupi (non-corporeal)[7]. Dharma, adharma, 腻办腻艣补 and 办腻濒补 are non-corporeal substance and pudgala is a corporeal substance.
2 Nature of Dharma, Adharma, 膧k膩艣a and 碍腻濒补
The defining characteristics of 鈥�诲丑补谤尘腻蝉迟颈办补测补鈥�[8] is auxillary cause of motion of 箩墨惫补 and pudgala, 鈥�补诲丑补谤尘腻蝉迟颈办腻测补鈥�[9] is auxillary cause of rest for 箩墨惫补 and a箩墨惫补, 鈥�腻办腻艣腻蝉迟颈办腻测补鈥�[10] is a substance of giving accommodation or that what accommodates, 鈥�辫耻诲驳补濒腻蝉迟颈办腻测补鈥�[11] is integration and disintegration and 鈥�办腻濒谩鈥� is modification.
3 Significance of Dharma, Adharma, 膧k膩艣a, Pudgala and 碍腻濒补
All these substances exist together in the cosmic space with their attributes and modes. These various substances fulfil their own functions and being effected by them the embodied souls wander about in the 蝉补峁僺腻谤补.[12] Moreover of the five substances, all four a箩墨惫补 dravyas render assistance to 箩墨惫补 in the mundane state as well as in the liberated state. They do not create an obstacle in the existence and unlike 辫耻诲驳补濒腻蝉迟颈办腻测补; these four do not play any role to make soul impure. They are just knowable by a mystic aspirant to know about the cosmos and its reality. Knowledge of all these a箩墨惫补 tattvas as they are in the universe results in the steady belief in the true nature of soul[13] that is conducive to develop for right world view and acquire right knowledge.
4 Matter and its Relation with Soul
Of all the a箩墨惫补 tattvas, soul is closely related with matter. The soul and matter come together their comes the creation, multiformity of creation, the mystery of creation[14]. As per Bhagavati 厂奴迟谤补, both soul and matter have the tendency to unite, soul has a quality to attract the matter and matter has a quality to get attracted.[15] This bilateral affection establishes intimate and multiple relationships between the two.
Their relationship is of threefold 鈥�karma 艣ar墨ropagraha r奴e峁嘺 trividha岣�鈥�-karma (action), 艣补谤颈谤补 (body), upagraha (auxillary powers).[16] According to Jainism, it is implied that worldly soul itself means soul accompanied by matter and this association continues till the soul attains liberation.
According to Jainism, only the matter in the form of vargana (material cluster) comes in the use of living beings. No living being can function without accumulating required 惫补谤驳补苍腻 (material duster). Every moment the soul keep on accepting, transforming and realising new 惫补谤驳补苍腻s.[17] Until and unless there is the interaction of both, soul is in the bondage state. To attain Siddhahood i.e. mystical state, one needs to cut off the connection with matter. Thus study of a箩墨惫补 tattva yields insight into the nature of the material binding process which is to be shaken off if the freedom of the soul is to be sought.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Ibid, 5. 30.
[3]:
罢补迟迟惫腻谤迟丑补 厂奴迟谤补, 5.38; Jaina Siddhanta 顿墨辫颈办腻 by 膧肠腻谤测补 Tuls墨. ed. Yuv膩c膩rya Mah膩praj帽a; Adarsh Sahitya Sangh, Churu, 1982, 1.3 鈥�驳耻峁嘺辫补谤测补测补测惫补诲 诲谤补惫测补峁�鈥�
[4]:
鲍迟迟补谤补箩箩丑补测补峁嚹佱箛颈, 36.2.
[6]:
Ibid, 1.1, 鈥�顿丑补谤尘腻诲丑补谤补尘腻办补艣办补濒谩辫耻诲驳补濒腻蝉迟补诲产丑别诲腻岣�鈥�
[7]:
鲍迟迟补谤补箩箩丑补测补峁嚹佱箛颈, 36.4
[9]:
Ibid , 5.171, 鈥�gu峁嘺o 峁環膩峁嘺gu峁噀鈥�
[10]:
Ibid , 5.172
[11]:
峁琱腻峁嘺峁�, 5.174
[12]:
笔补谤补尘腻迟尘补辫谤补办腻艣补 and Yogas膩ra, 笔补谤补尘腻迟尘补辫谤补办腻艣补, 2.16.26.
[13]:
Ibid , 2.15
[14]:
[15]:
罢补迟迟惫腻谤迟丑补 厂奴迟谤补, 8.2.
[16]:
Illuminator of Jaina Tenents, 1.11.