PURE SOUL AND ITS INFINITE TreAsure By Dr. Jayanti Lal Jain General Editor Dr. Priyadarshana Jain DepARTMENT OF JAINoloGY UNIVersITY OF MADRAS Chennai - 600 005 ReseARCH FouNDATION For JAINoloGY Chennai - 600 079 Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure • Pure Soul and its InfiniteT reasure • Author : Dr. Jayantilal Jain • General Editor : Dr. Priyadarshana Jain • Jointly Published by: Department of Jainology Univeristy of Madras Chennai - 600 005 & Research Foundation for Joinology Sowcarpet, Chennai - 79. • Bhagawan Mahaveer 2600th Janma Kalyanak Mahobsav Endowment Publication Series 5 • First Edition : July 2010 • Copies : 500 • ISBN No. : 81-89860-06-2 • Copyright with the Publishers • Printed at : Sri Maruthy Laser Printers Chennai - 600 014. • Book Size : 1/8 Demy, Pages : 272 • Price : Rs. 150/- • Copies available at: The Director Research Foundation for Jainology Publication Division Sugan House University of Madras 18, Ramanuja Street Chennai - 600 005. Sowcarpet, Chennai - 600 079. Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure CoNTENTS Chapter I. Towards Universal Happiness 7 II. The Concept of Pure Soul-An Overview 14 III. Scanning Soul’s Environment 21 IV. The Path to Real Nature 26 V. A Reservoir of Infinite Power 43 VI. Secular Underpinnings 128 VII. A Treasure House of Names 151 Select References 259 Annexures 263 - 272 i. Six substances in the universe ii. A note on whether soul exists iii. A note on eight-fold classification of Karmas iv. Broad classification of souls v. Select characteristics - of real nature the soul vi. The pure soul and nine principles vii. Distinction between auspicious, inauspicious deeds and pure soul viii. Six-fold causation ix. Six-fold causation in the pure soul x. Engrossment with pure soul – key to liberation Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure PUBLISHER’S NOTE Jaina philosophy is out and out spiritual and the sacred Jain texts have revealed the infinite characteristics of the Pure Soul which need to be realized and tapped to enjoy eternal bliss and happiness here and now. Realization of the same enables mankind to tread on the path of Non-Violence and Truth thus paving the way for a harmonious society and self-sustained environment. Spirituality is the backbone of Jaina Philosophy and Ancient Wisdom and this is the subject matter of the current publication titled, ‘The Pure Soul its Infinite Treasure’, authored by Dr. Jayantilal Jain and jointly published by the Department of Jainology, University of Madras and Research Foundation For Jainology, Chennai. The Department of Jainology which was instituted at the University of Madras in 1983 with an Endowment Fund provided by the Research Foundation for Jainology is now a full-fledged main stream Department since 2003. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India sanctioned Rupees Fifty Lakhs as Corpus fund to the Department, on the eve of the Bhagwan Mahavir 2600th Janma Kalyanak Mahotsav in April 2003. The Department is conducting various research and publication works in this fund. Since then the Department has brought out four publications and this is the fifth publication but for the first time a thesis on spirituality is being published under the above Endowment Fund, and it is the twelfth publication of the Department of Jainology. Research Foundation for Jainology has supported the Department in all its academic endeavors and this time too they have generously come forward to jointly publish this thesis which will be very helpful for the students as well as aspirants to understand the nature of the Pure Soul. We are grateful to the University authorities for giving permission to publish the abridged version of the thesis and all others connected with the publication of the same. Krishnachandd Chordia Dr. Priyadarshana Jain General Secretary Asst. Prof. and Head i/c Research Foundation Department of Jainology For Jainology University of Madras. Chennai-600 079. Chennai - 600 005. Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure PREFACE The soul is a treasure house of infinite knowledge, vision, happiness, power and so on about which we have very little knowledge. Some have misgivings and some even doubt the very existence of soul. Absence of this knowledge subjects an individual to many illusionary ideas and consequent anxieties and unhappiness in life. This book on treasure of pure soul is a summary of the concept of pure soul as enunciated by the Tirthankaras, spiritual scientists and innumerable scholars, in Jain tradition, known to mankind from time immemorial. The subject is subtle, complex, defies normal human understanding and no one can claim to cover the same in its various dimensions. This is a small attempt to summarise the existing knowledge on the subject. The first four chapters provide the background and introduce certain concepts which are essential for better understanding of the subject. Chapters V and VII primarily deal with the treasure of soul in terms of forty seven properties and then over one thousand names or characteristics respectively where each one of them can further be visualised in various forms that a soul takes and each form/modification comprising of operation of infinite characteristics. Chapter VI emphasises that the concept of soul has secular underpinnings and should not be believed to belong to one or a few religious groups. This is applicable to all living beings in the universe and does not apply only to a part of the universe or a group of beings in the universe. On the basis of concept of pure soul, it also lays down certain secular/eternal /common standards that should be satisfied while considering a concept as secular. This book is an abridged version of my thesis submitted to the Department of Jainology, University of Madras, in partial fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 2005. In terms of references for this concept, the narration is based on the Annexure to the commentary of Amritchandra on Samayasar of Kundakunda and Jinsena’s Jinasahastranama. Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure Kundakunda’s major works like Samayasar, Pravanchanasar and Niyamasar have also considerably influenced the reasoning advocated in different chapters. My endeavour here is to provide a text on pure soul that will be useful to anyone interested in the subject and promote further insight into the same. Special care has been taken to avoid, to a great extent, use of Sanskrit or Prakrit words to facilitate smooth reading and understanding of the subject, keeping in mind the interest of non-scholar Jains, non-Jains and Non-Hindi speaking readers. I am thankful to Dr. Priyadarshana Jain, Head i/c of the Department of Jainology, University of Madras for her inifiative to publish this work under the Bhagawan Mahaveer Endowment Publication and Sri Krishna Chand, Secretary Research Foundation for Jainology, Chennai for sponsoring this publication. The cover page, picture on Dhyan and Mystic is from the well-known paintings of Kavita Shah, the Map of Universe is from Trilok Bhaskar by Ariyaka Jnanmati, the picture on Existence of Pure Soul is from Jain Dharam by Babulal Jain, picture on Destruction of Karma is from the journal, Dharma-Mangal, October 07. I am sure that there will be tremendous change in the perception of life of all those who will read and understand this text and will find easy access to the infinite treasure of pure soul and eternal happiness. Chennai Jayanti Lal Jain July 1, 2010 Professor Emeritus, Department of Jainology University of Madras Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure Chapter I ToWARDS UNIVersAL HAppINess Wealth causes sufferings... Soul is exceedingly blissful Pujyapad Acharya, Ishtopadesh, Verse 1, 1 Our economic and social endeavours aim at maximisation of satisfaction/happiness/welfare of individuals and society while Philosophy aims at enhancing happiness through spiritual endeavours. The concept of happiness and liberation whether economic liberation or liberation from the worldly existence sound the same.The extension of economic happiness to that of happiness of a pure soul is purposeful as one should not think that economic liberalisation is the only objective of life. The concept of spiritual happiness helps to solve the problems of present society such as–mental tensions, violence, preservation of ecological equilibrium and conflicts of ideologies and faiths. Scientists live in the present and try to solve the present day problems with the help of machines and equipments. The person engaged in spiritual experiences, tries to solve the problem of misery and unhappiness for all times to come by realising eternal happiness. Scientists manage the present and ignore the future while one who seeks spiritual happiness makes himself happy in the present and also eternally in future as well. Towards Universal Happiness Happiness is a complicated phenomenon whether material or spiritual. While a man is one, to divide his requirement of happiness into two is not necessarily a right thing. Man is a whole and he has to be dealt with accordingly to adequately explain the happiness that one derives from spiritual endeavours as against economic endeavours. The society should move towards a theme on globalisation of happiness and peace, as against globalisation of economic power or business, free trade or laissez faire as being advocated in contemporary economic policy. The foundations of such a theme of universal happiness and harmony are as follows. 1. Community of Pure Souls - All humans/creatures are souls, and they are all equal in their potential. It is the deeds that make the differences. If this realisation comes, there will be love and reverence for each soul, rather than hatred, conflict or violence. This universalisation of community of souls needs popularisation. As against globalisation of violence, there has to be globalisation of happiness. 2. Ecology of Self - All religions agree that an individual is a soul and has something to do with good or bad deeds. If assumed to be soul, we have no option to become a non- soul substance.