Jaina Philosophy and Religion

SR No.: 001604
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nyayavijay
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 500
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Epistemology
File Size: 12 MB

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Jaina Philosophy and Religion
or vegetable kingdom, he has no choice but to take birth in that state of existence. Men who possess good conduct here will attain good birth after death. And men who are of bad conduct here will attain bad birth after death. The kind of life man lives in the present birth determines the class in which he will be born after death.
The essential point that emerges from the above discussion is that right faith (samyagdarśana or samyaktva) is nothing but understanding or conviction that one should avoid bad conduct of immorality, injustice, incontinence and greed, and practise good conduct of morality, justice, continence, self-control and contentedness. The extensive spread of this right faith among masses cures the society of the terrific fatal diseases of immorality, injustice, inequality, cruelty and exploitation which originate from and thrive on lust, gross hedonism, capitalism, imperialism, despotism and superstitions. As a result, there emerges and spreads in the world the health-giving light of all-elevating good qualities of non-violence, truthfulness, contentedness, evenmindedness, equanimity and universal friendliness. Thus even this miserable world can be turned into Heaven of heavens.
The five signs or characteristics of samyaktva (right faith) are mentioned in the Jaina philosophical works. They are—sama (tranquillity), samvega (spiritual craving), nirveda (disgust), anukampā (compassion) and āstikya (conviction).
Sama (tranquillity)—This is the mental state when the passions like anger, greed, etc., are suppressed or controlled and desires for worldly pleasures are properly curbed.
Samvega (spiritual craving)-This is the intense desire to attain liberation or the highest spiritual Good.
Nirveda (disgust)—This is disgust with unwholesome, sinful and evil activities.
Anukampā (compassion)—This is the desire to eliminate sufferings of living beings without any partiality. This desire expresses itself in tenderness of heart. And when put into practice, it takes the form of practical steps to remedy sufferings of beings.
Astikya (conviction)-It is the conviction that good conduct leads to spiritual welfare while bad conduct to degradation and misery.
1. sama-samvega-nirvedanukampāstikyalaksanaiḥ / lakṣaṇaih pañcabhiḥ samyak samyaktvam upalaksyate //
-- cărya Hemacandra's Yogaśāstra, II.15