The Path and the Creed: Selections from Jainism's Holy Sutrakritanga Sutra, Book I, Part 2 of 2

We present to you today, excerpts from Book I – Lecture 12, from Jainism’s Sutrakritanga Sutra. First Book Twelfth Lecture The Creed “There are four heretical creeds which the disputants severally uphold: 1. the Kriyavada (activism), 2. the Akriyavada (moral acts do not have any consequences), 3. the Vinayavada, and 4. the Agnanavada. The agnostics, though they pretend to be clever, reason incoherently, and do not get beyond the confusion of their ideas. Ignorant teachers speak to ignorant pupils, and without reflection they speak untruth. The Akriyavadins who do not understand the truth, bring forward various opinions; many men believing in them will whirl round in the endless Circle of Births.”

“The Kriyavadins Sramanas and Brahmanas understanding the world according to their lights, speak thus: misery is produced by one's own works, not by those of somebody else namely fate, creator, & etc. But right knowledge and conduct lead to liberation.”

“Averse to injury of living beings, they do not act, nor cause others to act. Always restraining themselves, those pious men practise control, and some become heroes through their knowledge. He regards small beings and large beings, the whole world as equal to himself; he comprehends the immense world, and being awakened he controls himself among the careless. Those who have learned the truth by themselves or from others, are able to save themselves and others. One should always honour a man, who is like a light and makes manifest the Law (spiritual precepts) after having well considered it. Being not attached to sounds and colors, indifferent to tastes and smells, not desiring life nor death, guarded by control, and exempt from the Circle of Births. Thus I say.”