5.2. God as a Discoverer, Not a Creator

Man has enquired since ages about the creator and his workings.

‘The primary contention against a creator is basic: who created the creator? In the event that he is unceasing and uncreated, at that point for what reason can one not expect that the universe is interminable and uncreated? Additionally, in the event morality depends on the will of a judging god, at that point for what reason does that god will therefore? For what reason can one not accept that the ethical order is interminable, an inborn part of the self-existing universe?’^[1]

The above statement can be clarified through contemplating about karma, if one thinks about a state of no karma, how can, and should, a being in that state will bind newer karma, to fulfil any desire of its follower or any other.

Most Jaina people are unware of the beauty of Jaina philosophy, how it conveys the freedom of free will and the strength it provides to an individual. As here, God is not someone who lays out a set of rules to be followed or asking all to worship him. God is that individual who had the courage to find his own truth and by doing so he showed way to all about how to go ahead.

‘The Tirthankaras are not lawmakers but rather the discoverers of eternal laws.’^[2]

The laws that are not set by anyone but are natural.

Another elegance is that each one is allowed to raise questions according to one’s own intellect as the journey belongs to that particular individual and not to someone else.

‘Similarly as discoveries of science are basically open to confirmation by any individual who wishes to do as such, reality of the lessons of the Tirthankaras can likewise be acknowledged experientially by anybody.’^[3]

Truth is a realisation, not a teaching. One needs courage and innumerable strength to find one’s own truth.

‘Despite the fact that there might be one truth, numerous methodologies exist to that reality. However the appropriate response is dependably the equivalent; reality did not change.’^[4]

It is achievable by anyone, has achieved by many in the past, and will be experienced by many in future.

The responsibility a learned and awakened person has, is to show way to those who lag behind. Each seeker has to mend his own path and has to walk on that on his own.

‘It is the activity of those ahead to reach back, with empathy and love, to help those behind. To reach back and help, and expect neither reward nor even thanks. To reach back and help, since that is the thing that spiritual beings do.’^[5]

We can define spirituality in a new way as of showing way to others, unconditionally and selflessly.

An inward journey of nothing but self-introspection.

‘A religion free of god, they have only themselves to blame.’^[6]

Not in a guilty way but for improving their selves to the utmost.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

JTIF. Footnote, pp. 20

[2]:

Ibid. pp. 21

[3]:

Ibid. pp. 21

[4]:

MFTM. pp. 7

[5]:

Ibid. pp. 66

[6]:

LF. Pp. 93