Session SixJaina Theology

Ahimsa Paramo Dharmaha

The Jaina IdealTheology is mans idea of God and His relationship to man.God is the highest ideal that man can think of We stand to God as the actual does to the ideal. It is our duty to try and rise as far as we can towards the ideal

What is the ideal?The highest ideal is that which is best for the individual and for humanityWhat is best for the individual is best for humanityIf we put forward our best, we would have discharged our duty to mankindThe best is that which is accepted as such universally by all humanity at all times

God the Jaina idealGod is the soul at its best Freed from all that is materialAttained perfect knowledgeFaithPowerBliss

Jaina PrinciplesMans personality is dual material (matter) and spiritualMan is not perfect, but can improveMan can and must control his material nature. Man himself, and he alone, is responsible for all that is good or bad in his lifeThere are many deities and gods, but no god created the universeMan can raise to godhood

The Ascent of ManWhen matter is completely subdued, the soul attains perfection and freedom.This state is enjoyed in 4 waysAnanta darshana Infinite perception or faithAnanta Jnana Infinite knowledgeAnanta Vinaya Infinite powerAnanta Sukha Infinite blissIt is such a free and happy soul that is called Jina (conqueror) or Tirthankara (guide)

JinaThe individual who has destroyed raga, dweshaFree of ignoranceShed 4 kinds of karmas illusory (mohaniya), knowledge-obstructing (jnana-avaraniya), perception-obstructing (darshana-avaraniya) and power-hindering (antaraya) is known as vitaragi (the detached), Jina (the victorious) and Sarvajna or Kewali (the omniscient)

TirtankaraThe lofty person, an omniscient Arihant, who defines, elaborates, and propagates ahimsa, satya, brahmacharya etc.Who establishes the four orders Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravaka and ShravikaWho is endowed with unique powersHe is not an avatara. The status can be attained by penance, equanimity and meditationHe may be called God in human form

The Free SoulsFree souls are of two kinds; siddha and arhatSiddha-s are disembodied souls and are in nirvana. Siddha-s are of two kindsTirthankara Siddha When in embodied condition, they preached the tenets of Jainism They are 24 in number in the current avasarpini cycle of timeSamanya Siddha Those who did not teach in their embodied conditionArhat (Embodied Free Souls) Those who have attained sarvajnatva but have not yet discarded the mortal body

Souls of Higher SpiritualityNext in the hierarchy of noble souls are those who have attained extraordinary spiritualityAcharya our sage Manatunga Suri belongs to this category. An Acharya has at least 36 guna-sUpadhyaya teaching saintSadhu an ascetic

Classes of Souls

AcharyaAn acharya must be endowed with 36 qualities. There are 5 classifications of these gunasTapas (12) 6 external and 6 internalDharmas (10)Avashyaka (6)Achara (5)Gupti (3)

External TapasAnashana Not eating for a period (1)Anavapta Eating less than what one desires (2)Vrata pari-samkhyana pledge as to how one receives food (3)Rasa parityaga renounce tasteful things (4) (especially ghee, salt, oil, curds, milk, sugar)Vivikta shayyasana sitting or sleeping without bed or chair (5)Kayaklesha mortification of the body by refusing many comforts (6)

Internal TapasPrayaschitta (7)Vinaya Zeal for right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, proper tapas, loving and ready obedience to superiors (8)Vaiyapritya - sincere service and actual attendance to old, infirm and sick sadhus (9)Swadhyaya (10)Vyutsarga non-attachment to the body (11)Dhyana (12)

Ten Dharmas - 1Uttama-kshama Suppression of anger, ready forgiveness (13)Mardava Ready and sincere humility (14)Arjava Straightforwardness (15)Satya - truth in feeling and conduct (16)Shoucha cleanliness of the body, mind and intellect (17)

Ten Dharmas 2Samyama (18)Samyama has to manifest in two ways (a) restraint of senses and (b) practice of compassion to the following(1) lowest mineral life (2) aquatic life (3) fire life (4) air life (5) vegetable life (6) animal life

Ten Dharmas - 3Tapa (19)Tyaga also includes gift of knowledge (20)Akinchana Nothing is mine in the universe (21)Brahmacharya chastity, devoted contemplation of the Self by the soul (22)

Avashyaka daily dutiesSaamaayika Equanimity; peaceful indifference to worldly objects (23)Vandana bowing to the perfect souls (24)Stuti praising the qualities of the holy (25)Pratikramana repentance for committed faults (26)Pratyaakhyana forethought and endeavor so no faults occur in future (27)Kayotsarga giving up attachment to the body (28)

Achara, GuptiDarshanachara strong and steady faith (29)Jnanachara increase knowledge (30)Charitraachara superb conduct and morals (31)Tapaachara (32)Veeryaachara increasing the power of the inner self (33)Gupti are of 3 kinds Restraint of the mind, body and speech (34, 35, 36)

Four Noteworthy PointsCatholicity of Jaina attitude: Worship of all worthy souls irrespective of race etcThe worship is impersonal. The aggregate of qualities (guna) is worshipped rather than an individualArhat status can be attained by anyone before dropping the mortal bodyOM is the primordial sound denoting the pancha parameshthins

OMOM has five soundsa, a, aa, u, mArhatAshareera siddha (disembodied)Aacharya UpadhyayaMuni (the silent) sadhu