Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study)
by Deepak bagadia | 2016 | 109,819 words
This page relates ‘Fundamental Principles of Jainism (Introduction)’ 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 2 - Fundamental Principles of Jainism (Introduction)
Jainism is spiritualistic as it believes in existence of soul. It is eternal and transmit-grates to another body after death. Every soul is potentially divine. The ultimate goal of Jainism is how to attain total freedom from the cycle of birth and death and there-fore from pain, suffering and misery of the life. Thus, like other Indian Philosophies, final goal of Jainism is liberation, absolute freedom which is termed as moksa.
In its pure state, soul has the following four characteristics:
- Infinite knowledge (anantajnana);
- Infinite faith (anantadarsana);
- Infinite energy (anantavirya);
- Infinite bliss, happiness (anantananda) ;
Worldly soul is impure, polluted with karmic matter.
Lord Mahavira explained through various sermons that every living being (soul, jiva) is ignorant about his/her true self and also is in bondage of karmic particles. These particles are continuously accumulated by our good or bad deeds. And accordingly we enjoy pleasures in materialistic belongings and possessions. This is the deep-rooted cause of self-centered violent thoughts, anger, hatred, greed and other vices. And that’s how more karma gets accumulated. In order to get rid of this cycle, one has to follow the right path consists of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. This trio also called as triratna of Jainism is termed by Mahavira as samyak-darsana, samyak-jnana and samyak-caritra respectively. These are not three ways to moksha, but integration of these three only can take us to liberation. All three constitutes the moksa marga as explained in the beginning of Tattvarthasutra.[1]
These three gems together called as triratna, destroys bhavakarma and afterwards, the dravyakarma gets dissolved automatically. These three gems form foundation of entire spiritual path of Jainism.
"There's no knowledge without right faith,
No conduct is possible without knowledge,
Without conduct, there's no liberation,
And without liberation, no deliverance"—Lord Mahavira[2]
Each one of three gems is explained below:
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
samyagdarśanajñānacāritrāṇimokṣamārgaḥ | Tattvartha-Sutra, 1.1, Acharya Umaswati, Tattvarthasutra, JAINA and Shrut Ratnakar, Ahmedabad, July, 2007
[2]:
Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Chapter-27, Translation of Verse 30