Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study)
by Deepak bagadia | 2016 | 109,819 words
This page relates ‘Essence of Indian Philosophies’ of the study dealing with the Spiritual Practices of Jainism and Patanjali Yoga in the context of ancient Indian Philosophy (in Sanskrit: Darshana), including extracts from the Yogasutra and the Tattvartha-Sutra. The system of Yoga offers techniques which are scientifically designed for the spiritual development of an individual. Jainism offers ethicical principles and meditation practices to assist with spiritual development.
Part 3 - Essence of Indian Philosophies
Various systems of Indian Philosophy have some common characteristics like most of them believe that this world is full of miseries, pains and problems. Yoga calls it as “klesas”, Jaina as “kasayas”, whereas Samkhya and Buddhism describe it as “dukkha”. Due to this concept, Western philosophers call this philosophy as pessimistic. But in true sense, each darsana in India asks us to make efforts towards permanent blissful state or moksa and do good karma. Be optimistic to use various remedies to remove miseries from our life.
For this, Buddhism suggests “astangika marga’; a path consisting of eight limbs namely,
- samyak drsti (right understanding),
- samyak samkalpa (right thought),
- samyak vac (right speech),
- samyak karmanta (right action),
- samyak ajiva, (right livelihood),
- samyak vyayama (right efforts),
- samyak smrti (right mindfulness),
- samyak samadhi (right concentration).
Through spiritual education in the noble eight fold path of sila (morality, character), samadhi (Meditation), panna (prajna -insight or wisdom), one gets liberated from ignorance, craving and sorrow. He achieves supreme enlightenment (samma-sambodhi) and transcends his separate limited individuality and overcomes the cycles of birth and death and gets the supreme silence. Jainism is both a religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings and a system of Philosophy. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and moksa or liberation.
The original preaching of Lord Mahavira, the founder of current systems of Jainism, was conveyed by oral tradition. These were finally compiled and stored in various angas also called as Agamas. Various techniques and principles of both philosophies, Yoga and Jainism are discussed and analysed in this thesis.
Patanjali also prescribed the final goal of life similar to Jainism. However, like Mahavira, Patanjali does not refer to any religion, sect or cult.