Transience: 1 definition

Introduction:

Transience means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

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Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Transience (in Sanskrit: anityatā) or “transient pleasures” refers to one of the “(twelve) reflections” (bhāvanā), according to Śubhacandra’s Jñānārṇava.—The transient pleasures of the senses lead to the destruction of the cosmos. The source of human misery is the connections arising from existence which ultimately give no pleasure. Disease conquers the body, old age conquers youth, decay subdues vitality and death subdues life. Beautiful objects are seen but they quickly disappear and pain, which is infinite, outweighs pleasure. The folly that is the inability to appreciate the transience of all objects is incurable but there is no time to lose in trying to improve oneself. [...] Youth or wealth is like a mass of clouds. Relations, children and bodies, etc. are as perishable as lightning. Everything that happens in the cycle of rebirth is momentary.

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context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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