Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates 鈥業ntroduction (Mysticism in India)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.
1. Introduction (Mysticism in India)
India is a land of spirituality where variety of religious beliefs and practises are being practiced, that leads to mystical experiences. The Indian history of mystic illumination, the acquisition of natural knowledge in a supernatural way is not unknown.
The two traditions that represent the mystical idea of India are:
- Brahamanic Tradition;
- Shramanic Tradition.
The 叠谤腻丑补尘补峁噄肠 tradition which we find in the parallel to 艢谤补尘补峁噄肠 tradition has evolved with time as Hinduism. Hinduism includes the diverse religious sects and beliefs and also the six schools of philosophy. It is more way of life than a form of thought.[1] It is the only religion that is not based upon the teachings of the single person or book. Instead, it owes its inspiration to a whole galaxy of saints and seers-known as the 鈥�峁涐梗颈蝉鈥�, the great mystic, who have experienced the mystic revelation. Mysticism interpreted as quest for inner illumination, union with ultimate reality, etc. is important feature of Hindu tradition and of Indian tradition in general[2]. Hinduism, whether it be a theistic or atheistic believes in an overall supremacy of the spiritual over the profane and natural, their common beliefs are immorality of soul, the law of karma and rebirth, the possibility of 尘辞办峁 etc. It includes the vast corpus of literature, the Vedas, the 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲蝉, the Bhagavad G墨t膩, the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉 and the two great epics 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 and 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 that from an integral part of Hinduism.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Radhakrishnan, S., The Hindu View of Life, Harper Collins, New York, 2012, p. 52.
[2]:
A Dictionary of Comparative Religion, Gen. ed. S.G.F. Brandon, Weindfield and Nicolson, London, 1979