Jain Darshan Me Moksh Ki Avdharna - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Jain Darshan me Moksh ki Avdharna" by Sagarmal Jain, based on the text from the provided catalog link:

Book Title: Jain Darshan me Moksh ki Avdharna (The Concept of Moksha in Jain Philosophy) Author: Sagarmal Jain Publisher: Z_Sagar_Jain_Vidya_Bharti_Part_6_001689.pdf

This text discusses the concept of moksha (liberation) in Jain philosophy, positioning it as the ultimate goal of human life across Indian religions and philosophies. The author emphasizes that while various terms like mukti, nirvana, paramapad, shivatva, paramatmapada, siddhapada, and paramadham are used, they all refer to the same ultimate state of liberation.

The core of the discussion revolves around the ineffable nature of moksha. The author explains that despite the shared goal of liberation, different philosophical interpretations exist due to linguistic and cognitive limitations. Just as different angles of a building reveal the same structure, diverse descriptions of moksha, while appearing varied, point to the same ultimate truth. This truth, the author states, is beyond the limitations of language, description, and intellect. Attempts to define it through words are inherently incomplete, much like describing the taste of jaggery. Even extensive research can only hint at the experience, not convey it directly.

Key points from the text:

Moksha as an Experience: Moksha is fundamentally an experience, and words can only serve as pointers towards it, not as its complete representation. The text quotes the Acharangasutra stating that words, logic, and intellect are incapable of fully describing the ultimate state of the soul.
Negative Description of Moksha: Due to its ineffable nature, scriptures often describe moksha through negation. This means highlighting what the liberated soul (muktaatma) is not. The liberated soul is described as being devoid of all attributes related to karma, such as:
- Physical Characteristics: Not long, short, circular, triangular, square, or round.
- Sensory Qualities: Devoid of color (black, blue, yellow, red, white), smell (pleasant or unpleasant), taste (pungent, bitter, sour, sweet, astringent), and touch (heavy, light, soft, hard, oily, dry, cold, hot).
- Gender: Neither male, female, nor neuter.
- Emotional and Mental States: According to Acharya Kundakunda, there is no pleasure, pain, suffering, obstacles, birth, death, senses, disturbances, delusion, confusion, sleep, worry, or even auspicious and inauspicious thoughts in moksha. It is a state beyond all ideations and choices.
Moksha as a Positive State: Despite the use of negative descriptions, the text strongly asserts that moksha is not an absence of existence but a positive, substantive state. The inherent human desire for the infinite, the longing to transcend the cycle of thoughts and desires, and the aspiration to return to one's true nature indicate that moksha is a state of absolute fulfillment and self-realization.
Self-Realization and Liberation from Limitations: Moksha is the state where consciousness transcends the limitations of thoughts, desires, and ego ("I" and "mine"). It is an immersion into the infinite and boundless, leading to the soul becoming itself infinite and boundless. Liberation is the breaking of all boundaries, veils, and attachments.
Moksha is Achieved in This Life: The text emphasizes that moksha is not an experience to be attained in an afterlife or another world. It is to be realized within this very life and in this very world.
Universality of the Goal: While the paths (sadhana paddhatis) and religions may vary, the ultimate goal of moksha is the same. All rivers flow towards the ocean; similarly, all religions are oriented towards the state of liberation or the ultimate soul. Just as different illnesses require different treatments but result in the same state of health, different spiritual ailments (rooted in attachment, aversion, delusion, and passions) require varied spiritual practices, but all lead to the singular state of liberation.
Equality in Liberation: In the state of liberation, all souls are equal. There is no hierarchy, no superiority or inferiority, and no master-servant relationship. Diversity exists in the state of bondage, not in the liberated state.
Moksha as the Destruction of Karmic Veils: In essence, moksha signifies the destruction of jnayaavarana (knowledge-obscuring karma) and kleshaavarana (passion-obscuring karma). It is the liberation of consciousness from disturbances, impurities, thoughts, and choices. It is the attainment of a state of detachment (vitaraga, vitatrushna, anaasakta) from attachment and the sense of being the doer, a concept acknowledged by all religions and philosophies.
Moksha as Rediscovery, Not Acquisition: Moksha is not something that is acquired from an external source. It is like health, which is not found but achieved by removing illness. Similarly, moksha is the calming of desires and impurities. It is the rediscovery of what is already present within. Just as sunlight is always present but is only revealed when clouds clear, liberation is the removal of karmic veils that disturb and obscure consciousness. A pure and tranquil consciousness is the meaning of liberation.

In summary, the text argues that while the ultimate state of moksha is beyond linguistic description, it is a positive, experiential realization of the soul's true, infinite nature. This state is achieved in this life through the eradication of karmic obstructions and the transcendence of all limitations, leading to a state of pure, unadulterated consciousness.