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Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)

by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words

This page relates ‘Who Can Attain Labdhi (supernatural powers)?� 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. Who Can Attain Labdhi (supernatural powers)?

According to Jainism, it is in general believed that, labdhi, are attainable by an aspirant who is indulged in spiritual practices. The labdhis can be attained by ĀٳñԾ (who does self knowledge) or by ignorant; by ṃyٱ or by ٳٱ; by ṃy or aṃy or saṃyamāṃy; by bhavya ī or abhavya ī; by a muni or by a ś첹.

It can be supposed that most of the labdhis or the highest number of labdhi and supreme type of labdhi are attainable by ĀٳñԾ, saṃyak ṛṣṭi, ṃy and bhavi. It is only some types of labdhis that are attainable by ignorant, abhavi or aṃy.

According to Viśeṣāvaṣyaka Bhāṣya Maladhari ṛtپ[1] both �bhavya� (men with the capacity for liberation or the sole which by nature is intelligible for liberation[2]) and �abhavya� (men without the capacity for Liberation or the soul which is not worthy of attaining liberation[3]) can attend Labdhi. The bhavya can attain all the labdhis (listed in the Viśeṣāvaṣyaka Bhāṣya) such as Arhat, Cakravarti, Baladeva, Vasudeva, etc. From all the labdhis, Arhat, 䲹ī, Baladeva, ܻ𱹲, Saṃbhinnaśrota, ṅg󲹳ṇa, Pūrvadhara, Rijumati, Vipulmati, 𱹲ī, ʳܱ첹, Ā첹 and ҳṇa󲹰 are thirteen labdhis that are not attainable by abhavya men and women. In the bhavya women except Arhat, 䲹ī, Baladeva, ܻ𱹲, Saṃbhinnaśrota, ṅg󲹳ṇa and pūrvadhara labdhis rest all the labdhis are attained[4]. According to ʰ峦Բǻ, there are three more labdhis that are not attainable by bhavya women; they are pulāka, āhāraka and ṇa󲹰.

In Իī Malayagiri ṛtپ[5], it is stated that—An apramatta muni (self-Vigilance) can attain labdhis, who is indulged in the scriptural studies. By the deep study of scriptures, attains -ñԲ, Բ�-貹ⲹñԲ, ṣṭ etc. buddhi (by the state of self-vigilance or non-remissness) they attain ṇa labdhi, vikriya labdhi, ṣa etc labdhis. According to Āⲹ Mahāprajñā, both ṃy (self-restraint) and aṃy (non-self restraint) can attain labdhis[6].

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

ʰԲǻ, p. 1618-1619.

[2]:

Jaina ʲṣi첹 Ś岹 ś, p. 247.

[3]:

Ibid, p. 35.

[4]:

Viśeṣāvaṣyaka Bhāṣya Maladhari ṛtپ, p. 328-329, (as quoted in Ś 󾱰ṣu Ā վṣaⲹ ś, p. 538).

[5]:

Իī Malayagiri ṛtپ, Āgamodaya Samiti, Surat, 1917, p. 106.

[6]:

Āⲹ Mahāprajña, Jaina Yoga, Adarsh Sahitya Vibhaga, Jaina Vishva Bharati, Mahāprajña Vangmaya-16, 2019, p. 240.

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