Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle

The main concern in this paper is to explore the relationship between Jaina ethics and meditation techniques proposed in the Jaina scriptures and its foundations. Meditative practices have been practiced in Jaina tradition for centuries. We also find a difference between the interpretation of script...

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Main Author: Asha Mukherjee
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) 2022-06-01
Series:RUDN Journal of Philosophy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.rudn.ru/philosophy/article/viewFile/31366/20844
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author Asha Mukherjee
author_facet Asha Mukherjee
author_sort Asha Mukherjee
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description The main concern in this paper is to explore the relationship between Jaina ethics and meditation techniques proposed in the Jaina scriptures and its foundations. Meditative practices have been practiced in Jaina tradition for centuries. We also find a difference between the interpretation of scriptures (especially Digambara and Svetambara) regarding meditation, and it also sometimes gets translated into the practice of meditation. In the case of Jaina tradition, it is challenging to separate ethics from the spiritual path of liberation and meditation as a practice. In this paper, based on Tattvartha Sutra , Uttaradhyayana , and Acaranga Sutra, I have tried to show that ethics in its restricted sense can be seen as only one aspect of meditation, but in its broader sense, the whole spiritual path suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be seen as meditation. The fourteen stages suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be considered the stages of ethical path or meditation. We can see preksha dhyana - a recent form of meditation that translates these stages into more acceptable to the laymen - a popular and simple form of the spiritual path in modern times. Nevertheless, in the end, the ultimate aim remains the same - self-purification through the Karmic cycle.
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spelling doaj.art-fb90b104a3b34c7695a7499ce74388f82022-12-22T01:20:53ZdeuPeoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)RUDN Journal of Philosophy2313-23022408-89002022-06-0126230532410.22363/2313-2302-2022-26-2-305-32420774Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic CycleAsha Mukherjee0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6126-9252Visva-Bharati UniversityThe main concern in this paper is to explore the relationship between Jaina ethics and meditation techniques proposed in the Jaina scriptures and its foundations. Meditative practices have been practiced in Jaina tradition for centuries. We also find a difference between the interpretation of scriptures (especially Digambara and Svetambara) regarding meditation, and it also sometimes gets translated into the practice of meditation. In the case of Jaina tradition, it is challenging to separate ethics from the spiritual path of liberation and meditation as a practice. In this paper, based on Tattvartha Sutra , Uttaradhyayana , and Acaranga Sutra, I have tried to show that ethics in its restricted sense can be seen as only one aspect of meditation, but in its broader sense, the whole spiritual path suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be seen as meditation. The fourteen stages suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be considered the stages of ethical path or meditation. We can see preksha dhyana - a recent form of meditation that translates these stages into more acceptable to the laymen - a popular and simple form of the spiritual path in modern times. Nevertheless, in the end, the ultimate aim remains the same - self-purification through the Karmic cycle.https://journals.rudn.ru/philosophy/article/viewFile/31366/20844jainameditationethicsspiritual developmentdigambarasvetambarasallekhanapreksha dhyana
spellingShingle Asha Mukherjee
Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
RUDN Journal of Philosophy
jaina
meditation
ethics
spiritual development
digambara
svetambara
sallekhana
preksha dhyana
title Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
title_full Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
title_fullStr Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
title_full_unstemmed Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
title_short Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle
title_sort jaina ethics and meditation self purification process through karmic cycle
topic jaina
meditation
ethics
spiritual development
digambara
svetambara
sallekhana
preksha dhyana
url https://journals.rudn.ru/philosophy/article/viewFile/31366/20844
work_keys_str_mv AT ashamukherjee jainaethicsandmeditationselfpurificationprocessthroughkarmiccycle