Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates ‘Relation of Metaphysics and Ethics with Mysticism� 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. Relation of Metaphysics and Ethics with Mysticism
According to Jainism for analysis or realization of absolute truth the foundation of metaphysics and ethics is must and an enlightened mystic analysis the truth from both metaphysical and ethical perspective. The Jaina metaphysical and ethical concepts are ratnatraya (three jewels), nine tattvas (fundamental realities), fourteen ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹, three states of soul, »å³ó²âÄå²Ô²¹ and ÂáñÄå²Ô²¹. All these concepts are closely interlinked and inter-connected. At certain level they are means for and at certain level they themselves are the mystical state.
The following table shows the concept as means and mystical state (absolute mysticism).
| Concepts | Means | Mystical state |
| 1. Nine tattvas | -) ³§²¹á¹ƒv²¹°ù²¹ & ±·¾±°ùÂá²¹°ùÄå -) The knowledge or understanding of all nine tattvas is means |
-) ´¡°ì²¹á¹�Äåya ³§²¹á¹ƒv²¹°ù²¹ -) Ayoga ³§²¹á¹ƒv²¹°ù²¹ -) ²Ñ´Ç°ìá¹£a |
| 2. Three states of soul | -) AntarÄåtmÄå | -) ParamÄåtmÄå |
| Three jewels | -) Samyag-ÂáñÄå²Ô²¹, Samyag- »å²¹°ùÅ›²¹²Ô²¹ Samyag-cÄåritra all three are means | -) Perfection in all three jewels |
| 4. Fourteen GuṇasthÄåna | -) 4-13th ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹ | -) 12th, 13th, 14th and beyond[1] |
| 5. DhyÄåna (meditation) | -) Dharma DhyÄåna -) Åš³Ü°ì±ô²¹ DhyÄåna |
-) Åš³Ü°ì±ô²¹ DhyÄåna[2] (third, fourth stage) beyond i.e. Parama Åš³Ü°ì±ô²¹ DhyÄåna |
| 6. JñÄåna (knowledge) | -) KevalaÂáñÄå²Ô²¹ (omniscience) -) ÅšrutaÂáñÄå²Ô²¹ |
-) KevalaÂáñÄå²Ô²¹[3] and Siddha state |
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The 12th, 13th and 14th ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹s are the mystical states and they are also the means. 12th ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹ is means for 13th ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹ and 13th is the means for 14th and 14th is the means forattainment of liberation.
[2]:
All the four stages of Å›ukla »å³ó²âÄå²Ô²¹ is means for attainment of liberation and the last two types of Å›ukla »å³ó²âÄå²Ô²¹ are the mystical state of enlightened mystics namely sayogi and ayogi. The thirteenth ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹ can be considered as the only direct means to attain the ultimate state of the soul in ayogi kevalÄ« ²µ³Üṇa²õ³Ù³óÄå²Ô²¹ and it’s beyond.
[3]:
The µþ³ó²¹²µ²¹±¹²¹Ä« ³§Å«³Ù°ù²¹ clearly mentions that without attainment of omniscience liberation is not possible. Therefore, omniscience is means as well as mystical state. Jaina believes that a mystic during his spiritual journey or at the end of his journey attain various mystical or supernatural powers known as labdhi or á¹›d»å³ó¾± in Jainism.