Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates 鈥楧efinition of Labdhi (in Various Texts)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.
3. Definition of Labdhi (in Various Texts)
In Jain literature we find varieties of definition for labdhi in various texts. The word labdhi is used in a number of technical terms. Such as, in the sense of 鈥�labdhi-惫墨谤测补鈥�, 鈥�labdhi indriya鈥�, 鈥�labdhi pulaka鈥�, etc. Here we are concerned with the labdhi in relation to attainment.
叠丑补驳补惫补墨 defines labdhi 补蝉鈥�
Attainment of the traits like knowledge etc. due to 办峁测辞辫补艣补尘补 (destruction-cum-subsidence) or 办峁测补 (destruction) of the karmas is known as labdhi.
膧肠腻谤测补 笔奴箩测补辫腻诲补 defines labdhi in 厂补谤惫腻谤迟丑补蝉颈诲诲丑颈鈥�
鈥�尝补尘产丑补苍补峁� 濒补产诲丑颈岣� k膩 punarasau鈥�[2].
Labdhi means attainment.
According to Vi艣e峁Ｄ乿a峁aka Bh膩峁a鈥�
鈥�udayakhayavasamovasamutth膩 bahuppais鈥浓赌�
That which is attainted by the udaya (rise), 办峁测补 (destruction), 办峁测辞辫补艣补尘补 (destruction cum subsidence) and 耻辫补艣补尘补 (subsidence) of the karmas is known as labdhi.鈥�[3]
厂补谤惫腻谤迟丑补蝉颈诲诲丑颈 and 罢补迟迟惫补谤迟丑补惫腻谤迟颈办补峁� 诲别蹿颈苍别蝉鈥�
鈥�Tapovi艣e峁Ｄ乨 峁沝诲丑颈pr膩ptir-labdhirityucyate鈥�[4].
鈥�Tapovi艣e峁Ｄ乨 峁沝诲丑颈rpr膩ptirlabd岣�鈥�[5]
The 峁沝诲丑颈 (supernatural powers) attained through spiritual practices is known as labdhi.
Malayagiri 痴峁泃迟颈 on 膧惫补艣测补办补 厂奴迟谤补 诲别蹿颈苍别蝉鈥�
鈥�gu峁嘺pratyayo hi s膩marthyavi艣e峁 labdhirit墨 prasi dhi峁�鈥�[6].
Attainment of specific qualities or powers by the qualities of austerity, meritorious state of the soul, intense scriptural study is known as labdhi.
Thus, all the above definition presents labdhi in two forms鈥揻irstly, labdhi as faculty of cognition and secondly, labdhi as power or capacity of soul. Both the forms are attained by the 办峁测辞辫补艣补尘补 or 办峁测补 etc of the relevant karmas.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
叠丑补驳补惫补墨. (Part 3), 8.139.
[2]:
[3]:
Vi艣e峁Ｄ乿a峁aka Bh膩峁a (Part 1), 797.
[4]:
[5]:
厂补谤惫腻谤迟丑补蝉颈诲诲丑颈, 2.47.353, p. 144.
[6]:
膧惫补艣测补办补 Niryukti 痴峁泃迟颈 of Malayagiri, 膧gamodaya Samiti, Mumbai, 1928. p. 79.