Handbook of Jainology

SR No.: 001346
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhuvanbhanusuri
Publisher: Divya Darshan Trust
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 288
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Philosophy
File Size: 15 MB

Page 61

4
THE TEST OF DHARMA
The question is this: What is real Dharma? The answer to that question is this; only that Dharma is real which has, like gold, stood the test of the touchstone; perforation and purification through fires.
First of all Kash means being tested by the touchstone. Just as the purity of gold is tested by the touchstone, the purity of Dharma has to be tested. Dharma may be said to have passed the test of the touchstone if in it proper rules and prohibitions are mentioned. In other words, there should be a prescription of the various activities that are worthy of being carried out; and there should be a prohibition of the various actions that are unfit to be carried out. In other words, the pure Dharma should prescribe certain actions; and the Jivas should not do them. So, we can say that the Dharma has stood the test of the touchstone if it recommends certain worthy actions as fit to be carried out; and condemns certain actions as unfit to be carried out; and commands its followers to discard them. For instance, the pure Dharma commands its adherents to carry out such actions as forgiving, experiencing happiness and contentment, acquiring knowledge, carrying out meditation, and the performance of Tapa etc. It commands its adherents to discard such things as violence etc.
The Second Point. That Dharma in which observances and practices are prescribed to accord with and to strengthen those rules and prohibitions, is said to have succeeded in the test called Chedh or analysis. For instance, in a pure Dharma there should be no inconsistencies like the following. There may be an earlier command prohibiting violence to any jiva but later there may be a command which says "Perform a yajna (a sacrifice) by killing animals." This does not accord with the earlier prohibition. On the other hand, it breaks the prohibition of violence to any Jiva. In the Jain Dharma there are no inconsistencies of any kind because the observances and practices prescribed for Sadhus or grihastas accord with and strengthen the prohibitions. This is the prescription made for sadhus.