The Doctrine of Liberation in Indian Religion: With Special Reference to Jainism

Chapter 1, “The Jaina Tradition: An Historical Review,” surveys the origins, antiquity, historical development, and core features of Jainism, emphasizing its Śramaṇa background, ascetic culture, non-theistic orientation, ahiṃsā, anekāntavāda, karma, saṃsāra, and mokṣa. Chapter 2, “The Doctrine of the Self,” compares the Brahmanical doctrine of ātman, the Buddhist doctrine of anātman, and the Jaina affirmation of a plurality of individual selves. Chapter 3, “The Doctrine of Karma and Transmigration,” explains karma as the mechanism of bondage and rebirth, with special attention to Jaina classifications of karmic matter, influx, bondage, and purification. Chapter 4, “The Jaina Doctrine of Liberation,” presents the central Jaina path to mokṣa through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, austerity, meditation, eradication of karma, and the liberated condition of the siddha. Chapter 5, “The Brahmanical Doctrine of Liberation,” reviews major Hindu approaches to release, including Upaniṣadic, Vedāntic, yogic, and devotional interpretations. Chapter 6, “The Buddhist Doctrine of Liberation,” studies nirvāṇa, the cessation of suffering, and the Buddhist path without a permanent self. Chapter 7, “The Sikh Doctrine of Liberation,” explains liberation through devotion, remembrance of the Divine Name, ethical life, and grace. Chapter 8, “Conclusion,” identifies major agreements and divergences among Jainism, Brahmanical Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, especially regarding self, God, karma, discipline, grace, and the final state of freedom.