Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates 鈥楳ystic and Its Features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.
7. Mystic and Its Features
Mysticism is doctrinal aspect of mystic, the main concern in mysticism lies between the mystic aspirant and the Supreme Being or the absolute truth. People have many misconceptions of who and what a mystic is? Ordinarily a mystic is conceived as one who can demonstrate miraculous feats by employing supernatural method. His purpose is mere attainment of mundane benefits. Hence a fortune teller, a magician, a claimroyanl or a visionary are called as a mystic. H.I. Khan in his book Self-Mysticism states, 鈥淚 do not mean that a mystic does not possess all these qualities but these qualities do not make a mystic.鈥�[1]
1. Who is a Mystic?
The Dictionaries define Mystic as鈥�Merriam Webster states 鈥渁 mystic is a follower of a mystical way of life or an advocate of a theory of mysticism.[2] Or a mystic is one who is having spiritual powers or qualities that are difficult to understand or explain.鈥�[3]
According to Underhill, to be a mystic is simply to participate here and now in that real and eternal life; in the fullest deepest sense which is possible to man.[4]
Defining mystic, Richard Jones quotes 鈥渂ehind the men and behind the great illusion lies the ultimate truth. A vision of this ultimate truth will invest human life with ultimate meaning so say the men and the women who practice mysticism, they are Mystics.鈥�[5]
Thus, Mysticism being a quest for the truth and wisdom, so strictly speaking a mystic is one who seeks and knows the highest reality not by reason but by direct experience which is possible because of firm and steady control of will achieved through meditational practices.[6] His sincere and earnest quest is for spiritual illumination, rapturous delight, the realization of the absolute truth and reality. He is the man of spiritual heights.
2. Types of Mystics
On the basis of the above definition, we can infer two types of Mystic:
1. Mystic who have attained the goal;
2. Mystic on journey to attain the goal.
Mystic Who have Attained the Goal
The mystic who have realized its spiritual goal of self -realization or attained 尘辞办峁 or who have experienced the ultimate reality or union by rigorous spiritual practices such as meditation, worship etc., are the mystic of this type. These are the mystics who are pioneers of the spiritual world. They meet the end of their life by apprehending the ultimate reality and become aware of it, drawn to it, raised up and transformed by it. These mystics are also called as 鈥榚nlightened mystics.鈥橳echnically in Jaina terms they are called as 产丑腻惫补 辫补谤补尘腻迟尘腻 or siddha.
Mystic on Journey to Attain the Goal[7]
The aspirant mystics, who believes, learns, understands and treads on the mystic path to attain the mystical experience are mystic of this type. These mystics can also be named as 鈥榩ractical mystic.鈥� As states Concise Oxford Dictionary鈥斺�渁 mystic is one who seeks by contemplation and self-surrenders to obtain union with or all absorption in the Deity ultimate reality. He believes in spiritual understanding of truth beyond the comprehension of the laymen.[8] This is the prior state of enlightened mystic. Technically in Jaina terms they are called as dravya 辫补谤补尘腻迟尘腻 or 补苍迟补谤腻迟尘补.
3. Characteristics of Enlightened Mystics
1. The enlightened mystic in the direct contact with the supreme, sets oneself free from the bonds of life and he experiences and sense of overwhelming beatitude and of salvation, and dissolution of personal individuality of me, mine in the transcendental self.
2. The mystics claim that there is a certain immediate and intimate knowledge of ultimate reality or truth, which is sharply distinguished in character from perceptual experience and rational speculation. He believes as the agnostic does not, that the quality of reality though not describable, can be experienced in a sort of direct knowledge which is far more satisfactory than the remoter knowledge of concepts.[9]
3. The enlightened mystic speaks with authority. For they have looked, at first hand 鈥渨ith holy dread鈥� and then with 鈥渄eep delight鈥� upon the ultimate reality and tells us that it is so.[10]
As Lord 惭补丑腻惫墨谤补 says, 鈥榯ti bemi鈥欌�撯�楾hus do I say鈥�.[11] Now 鈥渟ee the truth and enlighten youself.[12] Do not depend only on what I say, but develop your own spiritual vision.鈥�[13]
4. The enlightened mystic experiences both supreme knowledge and supreme bliss that are ineffable.[14]
5. The enlightened mystic rise above body and mind consciousness and experiences[15] transcendental consciousness.[16] They claim to have transcended the empirical 鈥榮elf鈥� and broken into a new and larger sphere of perception.[17]
6. The enlightened mystics are ambassadors to the absolute, they vindicate humanity, claim to the possible and permanent attainment of reality and bear witness to the practical qualities of the transcendental life.[18]
7. The enlightened mystic directly and immediately knows and sees the truth from all the point of view. His outlook is like that of a man standing on a mountain top and looking at the world from a great height. He knows the most and yet will act innocently.
8. The enlightened mystics are the holy beings and are rejoicing the breads of holiness. They transcend the categories of good and evil,[19] vice and virtue and all other worldly values and physical states.
9. The enlightened mystic is the acme of goodness or abode of virtues,[20] and the primary source of religious truth.[21]
10. The enlightened mystic is desireless, detached, dispassionate, self contend and divine.
11. The criterion of a true enlightened mystic is the perfect agreement between what he professes and what he practices.[22]
4. Characteristics of Mystic on Journey
1. The mystic aspirant seeks a more direct and personalized religious experience.
2. The mystic on journey, hope to gain an understanding and seek of union or realization with a spiritual entity.
3. The mystic who aspires to true spirituality eschew his sense of desire for things. Desire may include certainty a wish to possess material possessions and also a desire to achieve a particular spiritual goal.[23]
4. The mystic had a life withdrawn from the world and lead a solitary life. In solitude he monitors his feelings, emotions etc. i.e. one鈥檚 own life and bring inner silence in which his inner voice speaks or he realises his pure self. After realization of self and the ultimate truth he gives one-self to the society.
5. The mystics with singular agreement hold that some kind of moral preparation or discipline of the will is needed[24] for self-realization. The discipline constitutes certain abstinence and ceremonies of purification, moral virtues and various ways.
6. The mystic to pass out the journey successfully take the refugee and the guidance of spiritual guru or experienced guru who guide him to attain the goal.
7. They lead an introvertive life i.e., turned inward to the soul.
8. The mystic while treading on the path bears in the mind that there is something else beyond this ordinary life, there is another way to live.
9. The on-journey mystic is highly self-actualized, has unconditional acceptance of self, others and the world, is compassionate about other beings.
10. The mystic seeks to pass out of all that is merely phenomenal out of all lower forms of reality to become being itself.[25]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Khan, Hazarat Inayat., Sufi Mysticism, Motilal Banarasidass Publishers, New Delhi, Vol.10, 1990, p. 13.
[2]:
www.merrianwebseter.com
[3]:
飞飞飞.辞虫蹿辞谤诲濒别补谤苍别谤鈥檚诲颈肠迟颈辞苍补谤颈别谤.肠辞尘
[4]:
Mysticism, p. 332.
[5]:
Stierniotte, P. Alfred (ed.), Mysticism and The Modern Mind, The Liberal Art Press, New York, 1959, p. 82
[6]:
Facets of Mysticism, p. 300.
[7]:
Understanding Mysticism, p. 415., 鈥渕ystics are the person who say, or of whom it is said, that they have had immediate experience of God or of the eminent supreme or unsurpassable reality; but the term mystic is also used to donate a person who insists that this reality is ineffable or can only be characterized in paradoxical or鈥︹��, also see pp. 422-423.
[9]:
Types of Philosophy, pp. 262-263.
[10]:
Mysticism and The Modern Mind, p. 16.
[11]:
膧c膩r膩峁単a Bh膩峁a峁�, 5.140
[12]:
厂奴测补驳补岣峯 (Part-1), 2.1.1
[13]:
Bhagav膩na 惭补丑腻惫墨谤补, p. 78.
[14]:
笔谤补惫补肠补苍补蝉腻谤补, 1.59
[15]:
Great Mystic Saints of the World, p. 70.
[16]:
[17]:
Zaehner, R.C., Mysticism: Sacred and Profane, Oxford University Press, New York, 1980, p. 15.
[18]:
Mysticism, p. 308.
[19]:
Jones, H. Richard., Mysticism and Morality, Lexington Books, New York, 2004, p. 4.
[20]:
Spiritual Insight (莫峁ａ弓辞辫补诲别艣补 and 厂补尘腻诲丑颈 艢补迟补办补 by 膧肠腻谤测补 笔奴箩测补辫腻诲补), English Translation and Explanation of 莫峁ａ弓辞辫补诲别艣补 by Champat Rai Jain, English Translation with Commentary of 厂补尘腻诲丑颈 艢补迟补办补 by Rao Nemichand Shah, ed. with an Introduction by Jagadish Prasada Jaina, Radiant Publisher, New Delhi, 2000, 厂补尘腻诲丑颈艣atak, verse.2.
[21]:
Mysticism and Modern Mind, p. 16.
[22]:
[23]:
Mysticism: A Guide for the Perplexed, pp. 12-13.
[24]:
Types of Philosophy, p. 265.
[25]:
Understanding Mysticism, p. 20.