Questions & Answers on Jainism

Q-1 : What is good spiritual health?
Ans. Good spiritual health is to be away from passions.
Q-2 : Why is Nirjara necessary?
Ans. Nirjara is necessary to remove the accumulated karmas.
Q-3 : What is the difference between Samvar Bhavana and Nirjara Bhavana?
Ans. By Samvara Bhavana we stop the inflow of new karmas while by Nirjara Bhavana we wipe out the old accumulated karmas.
Q-4 : What is the right path in the life?
Ans. Live and let live is the right path in the life.
Q-5 : What is meant by Tapa?
Ans. Tapa means austerity.
Q-6 : What is the tenth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Suksham Sampraya Gunasthanak
Q-7 : What kind of care should we take in Parishtapanika Samiti?
Ans. Taking care not to cause any harm while removing or putting up any thing.
Q-8 : What is gained by Unodari Tapa (Austerity)?
Ans. One cultivates the control on desires.
Q-9 : What is the purpose of Swadhyaya?
Ans. Self-realization
Q-10 : What is the fourth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Aviratti Gunasthanak
Q-11 : What is the seventh Gunasthanak?
Ans. Apramatta Gunasthanak
Q-12 : What is the use of Kaya Kalesh Tapa?
Ans. It prepares us to stay in meditation for a longer time.
Q-13 : What is the eleventh Gunasthanak?
Ans. Upshant Mohniya Gunasthanak
Q-14 : Name the fifth Samiti?
Ans. Paristhapanika Samiti
Q-15 : What is the spiritual advantage of austerity?
Ans. Jiva destroys the accumulated karmas.
Q-16 : What is the use of Swadhaya?
Ans. Jiva destroys knowledge obscuring karmas.
Q-17 : What is the spiritual use of Anshana?
Ans. Jiva reduces the cycle of life and death.
Q-18 : What is the use of Prayashchita?
Ans. Prayashchit reduces our bad karmas.
Q-19 : Name the first Samiti?
Ans. Iriya Samiti
Q-20 : What is Iriya Samiti?
Ans. To be careful about our movements
Q-21 : What kind of care should we take in Iriya Samiti?
Ans. We should walk looking down, so that we can avoid hurting any living beings including small bugs, or insects.
Q-22 : What is the effect of Iriya Samiti on our conduct?
Ans. We start respecting even minute living beings.
Q-23 : Name the second Samiti?
Ans. Bhasha Samiti
Q-24 : What is Bhasha Samiti?
Ans. To be careful about how we speak.
Q-25 : What is the effect of Bhasha Samiti on one’s personality?
Ans. It keeps a person calm.
Q-26 : Name the third Samiti?
Ans. Eshna Samita
Q-27 : What is the benefit of Eshna Samiti?
Ans. By Eshna Samiti, we control our taste and desires.
Q-28 : Name the fourth Samiti?
Ans. Adan-Nikshepana Samiti
Q-29 : What does Adan-Nikshepana Samiti mean?
Ans. To be careful in receiving and keeping things necessary for existence
Q-30 : What is the benefit of Managupti?
Ans. It keeps the mind away from sinful thoughts.
Q-31 : What is Vachan Gupti?
Ans. To restrain speech When in passion
Q-32 : What is the benefit of Kaya Gupti?
Ans. It helps us to restrain from the violent activities.
Q-33 : What is Pratima in scriptures?
Ans. Pratima is a stage of discipline.
Q-34 : What is Dharamshradha?
Ans. Keen faith in Dharma.
Q-35 : What is Ninda?
Ans. Ninda means criticism. It should be done for self and to examine self for improvement. It should be never done for others.
Q-36 : What is Chaturvinshati Stotra?
Ans. The praise of twenty-four Tirthankaras
Q-37 : Which karma causes obstacles to the right path?
Ans. Mohniya karma
Q-38 : Which karma prevents us from gaining knowledge out of experience?
Ans. Mohniya karma. It blinds us in our passions.
Q-39 : What is Pramad?
Ans. Pramad is lethargy or indolence.
Q-40 : What is kashaya?
Ans. Kashaya means passions.
Q-41 : What is the meaning of yoga in Jainism?
Ans. Yoga means activities of body, mind, and speech.
Q-42 : What is Darshan Mohaniya Karma?
Ans. Faith deluding karma
Q-43 : What is Charitra Mohaniya Karma?
Ans. Conduct deluding karma
Q-44 : What is the maximum duration of Sanjwalan passions?
Ans. A fortnight.
Q-45 : What is the maximum duration of the Apratyakhyan passion?
Ans. One year.
Q-46 : What is the maximum duration of Jnanavarniya Karma?
Ans. Thirty krora krori sagarapam years
Q-47 : What is the maximum duration of Darshanavariya Karma?
Ans. Thirty krora krori sagaropam years
Q-48 : What is the maximum abadhkal for a Jnanavarniya karma?
Ans. Three thousand years
Q-49 : What is the maximum abadhkal for Darshnavarniya karma?
Ans. Three thousand years.
Q-50 : Which karma is the cause of ignorance?
Ans. Jnanavrniya Karma
Q-51 : Which karma is the cause of stupidity?
Ans. Jnanavarniya Karma.
Q-52 : Which karma hinders learning?
Ans. Jnanavarniya Karma.
Q-53 : Which karma hinders our senses?
Ans. Darsanavarniya Karma.
Q-54 : Which karma intoxicates for power?
Ans. Mohniaya Karma
Q-55 : Which karma causes envy?
Ans. Mohaniya Karma
Q-56 : Which karma causes infatuation?
Ans. Mohaniya Karma
Q-57 : Which karma hinders bliss?
Ans. Mohaniya Karma
Q-58 : Which karma causes contempt?
Ans. Mohaniya Karma
Q-59 : Which karma causes greed?
Ans. Mohaniya Karma
Q-60 : Which karma causes indolence?
Ans. Antaraya Karma
Q-61 : Which karma causes lack of strength?
Ans. Antaraya Karma
Q-62 : Which karma makes us unable to do auspicious actions?
Ans. Antaraya Karma
Q-63 : Which karma keeps us healthy?
Ans. Shata Vedniya Karma
Q-64 : Which karma keeps us free from diseases?
Ans. Shata Vedniya Karma
Q-65 : Which karma keeps us free from sorrow?
Ans. Shata Vedniya Karma
Q-66 : Which karma causes sickness?
Ans. Ashata Vedniya Karma
Q-67 : Which karma causes diseases?
Ans. Ashata Vednya Karma
Q-68 : Which karma causes sorrow?
Ans. Ashata Vedniya Karma
Q-69 : Which karma keeps the soul wandering in the circle of births and deaths?
Ans. Mohmiya Karma
Q-70 : Which karma is the cause of birth in a good family?
Ans. Uchcha Gotra Karma
Q-71 : Which karma causes the birth in a lower status family?
Ans. Neecha Gotra Karma
Q-72 : Which karma gives us beauty and symmetry in the body?
Ans. Shubha Nama Karma
Q-73 : Which karma is the cause of good fortune?
Ans. Shubha Nama Karma
Q-74 : Which karma causes prosperity?
Ans. Shubha Nama Karma
Q-75 : Which karma brings honor?
Ans. Yasahkirti Nama Karma
Q-76 : Which karma is the cause of bad fortune?
Ans. Ashubha Nama Karma
Q-77 : Which karma is the cause of misfortune?
Ans. Ashubha Nama Karma
Q-78 : Which karma brings dishonor?
Ans. Ayasahkirti Nama Karma
Q-79 : What does Abadhakala mean?
Ans. It is the time period from karmas being attached to the soul until they produce their results.
Q-80 : When is the maximum duration of karma considered good?
Ans. When maximum duration relates to celestial or human state of existence.
Q-81 : What is the effect of desire of our actions on karmas?
Ans. The duration and intensity of the karmas will be longer if our desires are stronger, and less if desires are weaker.
Q-82 : Will Ayushya karma be longer if person kills someone?
Ans. No, it will be shorter.
Q-83 : What is the maximum duration of Antraya Karma?
Ans. Thirty krora-krori sagaropam
Q-84 : What is the maximum duration of Gotra karma?
Ans. Twenty krora-krori sagaropam
Q-85 : What is the maximum duration of Nam Karma?
Ans. Twenty krora-krori sagaropam
Q-86 : What is the maximum duration of Mohaniya Karma?
Ans. Seventy krora-krori sagaropam
Q-87 : What is the maximum duration of Shata Vedniya Karma?
Ans. Fifteen krora-krori sagaropam
Q-88 : What is the maximum duration of Ashata Vedniya Karma?
Ans. Thirty krora-krori sagaropam
Q-89 : What is the maximum age of an infernal being?
Ans. Thirty-three sagaropam
Q-90 : What is the maximum age of a celestial being?
Ans. Thirty-three sagaropam
Q-91 : What is the maximum age of an Aquatic five-sensed Jiva?
Ans. Krora purva.
Q-92 : Which karma is responsible to be a Tirthankar?
Ans. Tirthankar Nam Karma
Q-93 : What is Gunasthanak?
Ans. Grading of Jiva according to its spiritual elevation.
Q-94 : What is the name of the lowest stage of spiritual elevation?
Ans. Mithyatva Gunasthanak
Q-95 : Why is the first gunasthanak called Mithyatva Gunasthanak?
Ans. In this stage a person accepts wrong as right and right as wrong.
Q-96 : What are the basic symptoms to recognize one in mithyatva gunasthanak?
Ans. He has no belief in the path shown by Jina.
Q-97 : Where does a Jiva go after death in the fourteenth Gunasthanak?
Ans. The Jiva goes to Moksha. He is liberated forever from the cycle of births and deaths.
Q-98 : What is the second Gunasthanak?
Ans. Sansvadan Samyakdrishti Gunasthanak
Q-99 : What is the maximum duration of a Jiva in Sansvadan Samyak Drishti Gunasthanak?
Ans. It is much less than a second. It is six avalika added to seven samaya.
Q-100 : What is the third Gunasthanak?
Ans. It is Mishra Gunasthanak.
Q-101 : What does Mishra Gunasthanak mean?
Ans. In this gunasthanak, one keeps swinging like a pendulum between the right and the wrong views. Therefore he develops neither liking nor disliking in the teachings of Jina.
Q-102 : Where can a Jiva go from Mithyatva Gunasthanak?
Ans. Jiva can go to the third or fourth gunasthanaks.
Q-103 : What is the maximum duration of a Jiva in Mishra Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than one Muhurat
Q-104 : What is a Mahurat?
Ans. It is a measure of time, and is equal to forty-eight minutes.
Q-105 : Why is the fourth Gunasthan called an Avirati Samyaktva Gunasthanak?
Ans. In this gunasthanaks have right faith and knows about vows (restraint) but is unable to practice the vows.
Q-106 : What is the lowest level of rebirth if one dies in Avirati Samyak Gunasthanak?
Ans. First devlok
Q-107 : What is the sixth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Pramat Sanyati Gunasthanak
Q-108 : What is the fifth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Desh Virati Gunasthanak
Q-109 : What is the maximum duration of Desh Virati Gunasthanak?
Ans. Eight and one-half years less than one crore purva
Q-110 : What is the minimum duration of Desh Virati Ganasthanak?
Ans. Less than 48 minutes
Q-111 : What is the minimum numbers of rebirth a Jiva may have to go through if he dies during the level of Pramat Sanyati Gunasthanak?
Ans. Three
Q-112 : What is the minimum duration of Pramat Sanyati Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a muhurat
Q-113 : What is the maximum duration of Pramat Sanyati Gunasthanak?
Ans. Eight and a half years less than one Crore Purva
Q-114 : What is Sanyati?
Ans. A Sadhu
Q-115 : What is the maximum numbers of rebirth a Jiva may have to go through if he dies during the level of Apramatta Sanyati Gunastahnak?
Ans. Three
Q-116 : What is the maximum duration of Apramatt Sanyati Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a Muharat
Q-117 : What is the eighth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Nivrati Badar Gunasthanak or Apoorva Karan Gunasthanak
Q-118 : What is the second name of Nivrati Badar Gunasthanak?
Ans. Apoorva Karaan Gunasthanak
Q-119 : What is the maximum duration of Apoorva Karan Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a Muhurata
Q-120 : What is Kshapak Shreni?
Ans. In Kshapak Shreni, various karmas are removed forever from the soul as it progresses. It starts from the ninth, to tenth Gunasthanas and then progresses to the twelth Gunasthanak and bypasses the eleventh Gunasthanak. After that the salvation of Jiva is guranted during that life.
Q-121 : What is the ninth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Anivratti Badar Gunasthanak
Q-122 : Which of the passions are still in Suksham Sampraya Gunasthanak?
Ans. Only a slight greed still exists in this gunastahnak, while the rest of all passions are either destroyed or suppressed.
Q-123 : What is the maximum duration of Suksham Sampraya Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a Muhurat
Q-124 : Why are Anuttar Viman so called?
Ans. Jiva from these viman is sure to be born as a man, and would attain liberation in the next life.
Q-125 : What is the maximum stay of a Jiva in Upshant Mohaniya Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a Muhurat
Q-126 : What is the twelfth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Ksheena Mohaniya Gunasthanak
Q-127 : What is the maximum stay in Ksheena Mohaniya Gunasthanak?
Ans. Less than a Muhurat
Q-128 : What is the thirteenth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Sayogi Kevali Gunasthanak
Q-129 : Why is the soul called Sayogi Kevali?
Ans. In this stage jiva has attained Kevalgnan and also carries out all three yogas; mind, speech, and body.
Q-130 : What is the fourteenth Gunasthanak?
Ans. Ayogi Kevali Gunasthanak
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Information Courtesy :Mr. Pravin K. Shah
Chairperson JAINA Education Committee
`509 Carriage Woods Circle Raleigh, NC 27607-3969 USA 
Email - Pkshah1@attglobal.net  
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