Essence of Jain Religion
The ultimate goal of
all life and conduct in Jainism is to realize the free and blissful
state of our true being. True philosophy should result in removing
all bondage (karma) in the process of purifying the soul.
The central theme of
Jainism considers religion as a science of ethical practice. The
conduct of the present life should be aimed to attain liberation
(Moksha), the state of eternal bliss from which there is no return to
the cycle of life and death. Every soul can attain liberation and a
supreme spiritual state by realizing its intrinsic purity and
perfection.
Jainism lays down a
definitive course of practical moral discipline, contemplation of the
highest truth, and reorientation of life for attaining ultimate
reality or truth. Lord Mahävir and the other Tirthankars have
shown the effectiveness of spiritual progress by putting it into the
practice in their own lives. The prominent Monk, Umäsväti,
around the 1st or 2nd century A.D., reminded us
of it again in the very first verse of his Tattvärtha Sutra. It
reads:
“Samyag-darshan-jnän-chäriträni
Mokshamärgah”.
This prescribes a path
to liberation (Moksha), which consists of the following trinity
(Ratna-Traya):
Right
perception Samyag Darshan
Right knowledge Samyag
Jnän
Right conduct Samyag
Chäritra
Right perception
creates an awareness of reality or truth, right knowledge impels the
person to proper action, and proper conduct leads him to the
attainment of total freedom. They must coexist in a person if one is
to make any progress on the path of liberation.
Right
Perception or Faith (Samyag Darshan)
The first step in the
process of self realization is to discard superstitious beliefs and
to adopt a rational attitude in life.
Right perception
consists of seeing the true nature of every substance in the
universe. Jainism advocates that one should first try to know,
comprehend, and understand the nature of reality, one’s own
self, religious goal, and the path. One should analyze, examine,
test, verify, and then, if satisfied, be convinced of its truth and
efficacy.
From a practical point
of view, perception in the nature of the reality means to have a
total faith in the preaching of Tirthankars and their scriptures,
known as Ägams.
Right
Knowledge (Samyag Jnän)
Right perception or
faith makes us realize the reality of life, and the seriousness of
our purpose in life.
Right knowledge is the
true, correct, proper, and relevant knowledge of the reality. To
understand reality, one should know the fundamental elements of the
universe and their relationships.
From the practical
point of view, right knowledge means the proper knowledge of the six
universal substances and nine principles or Nine Tattvas. Which
defines the relationship between Soul and Karma.
Soul, Matter, Medium of
Motion, Medium of Rest, Space, and Time
Soul, Non-living
substances, Äsrava, Bandha, Punya, Päp, Samvar, Nirjarä,
and Moksha
Right perception is
essential in recognizing right knowledge from wrong knowledge (Mithyä
Jnän). Both are mental processes. Right knowledge must be free
from three main defects: doubt, delusion, and indefiniteness.
Right
Conduct (Samyag Chäritra)
Soul’s ultimate
destiny is Moksha. Right conduct must ultimately lead to liberation.
The main goal of a
human life is to free one from attachment (Räga) and aversion
(Dvesha). That is to be free from all impure activities of thought,
word, and deed. This will attain the state of perfect equanimity.
For practical purpose,
right conduct comprises ethical codes, rules, and discipline which a
human being is required to pursue for ultimate freedom.
This resolves into
taking the five great vows of an ascetic or twelve limited vows of
householder.
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Right faith and right
knowledge are required for right conduct, and all are interdependent.
Jains dedicate
themselves to proper conduct through vows and sub vows. Vows are at
the heart of Jain morality and are undertaken with a full knowledge
of their nature and a determination to carry them through.
Understanding of Samyag
Darshan, Samyag Jnän, and Samyag Chäritra itself is not
good enough to take us anywhere but we would have to apply them in
real practice to their fullest to get the actual results. It should
also be remembered that we would have to follow all three,
Samyag-darshan, Samyagjnän and Samyag-chäritra, at the same
time because if we follow only one or two of them, they will not take
us too far on the road of spiritual pursuit.
The trinity is
necessary for a successful life. This threefold discipline helps us
realize our own intrinsic purity. The trinity must be cultivated
collectively to ensure liberation. Individually, they are incomplete
and insufficient because they are mutually dependent. Collectively,
the three jewels produce harmony, contentment, and bliss with the
progressive march of the soul to higher planes. |