6.1. Emancipation (Moksha)—Introduction

No one on the planet has experienced liberation and if someone has, he is not there to share his experiences with us, none can define how it feels in that state.

But through one’s intuition, perception and understanding one may have a glimpse that there lies an eternal state for one to achieve that is beyond all chaos, most knowledgeable, blissful and that is moksha.

samyag-darshana-gyana-caritrani mokshamargah
(Tattvarthsutra 1.1)

‘The enlightened world-view, enlightened knowledge and enlightened conduct are the path to liberation.’^[1]

‘The path to liberation consists of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. This path is not absolutely an intellectual one, nor it is simply an matter of devoutly doing requests that have been given by a religious expert.’^[2]

One gives equal importance to the trio, as it is not possible for one to proceed on the spiritual path, ignoring anyone of three.

Right perception leads the seeker to gain right knowledge which eventually leads one to purify one’s conduct.

‘In most living religions today, the passionate side of man is underlined: belief is requested more than comprehension, and this belief ought to move the adherent to lead his or her life such that discovers support with a higher element that will choose about the devotee's destiny in this life just as in the presence to come.’^[3]

This seems illogical to a rational mind for it is tough to surrender to a higher power that is going to judge one on each of one’s doing. Whereas Jainism conveys that the seeker is free at his own will and is not answerable to any super natural being but to himself.

German Indologist Henrich Zimmer named Jaina Philosophy as Transtheistic which means neither theistic nor atheistic but beyond them.

‘Jainism is not theistic, hence the question of following the commandments of a divinity does not arise.’^[4]

Here the supreme power lies in one’s own soul. Though one can follow the footsteps of those who have attained what one wants to attain, but even they can only show one the way, they cannot do anything for one.

‘There are many roads to enlightenment.’^[5]

One may ponder how far a particular religious philosophy can take us? Each takes us to some extent and the rest depends on the seeker’s thirst for knowledge and dedication.

On the path of truth there are no miracles, here lie rough patches and the strength of soul along with peace of mind, satisfaction and an undying feeling of bliss.

‘Jain nirvana is expressly human related, centred on earth, not in heaven.’^[6]

For earth is the place, in the whole universe, from where (only) humans can attain liberation. Hence those who are aware of this fact target not for the heavens but beyond.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Tatia Nathmal (Translator). That Which Is. English Translation of Tattvarthasutra of Umasvati). Yale University Press. New Haven & London. First Edition: 2011. pp. 5

[2]:

JTIF. pp. 37

[3]:

Ibid. pp. 37

[4]:

JTIF. pp. 37

[5]:

MFTM. pp. 8

[6]:

LF. pp. 73