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CHAPTER IV Salvation-path of Jainism
1. Three-fold Path of Salvation
From the basic principles of Jaina philosophy, it is evident that the inherent powers of the soul are crippled by its association with karmic matter and that is why every person is found in an imperfect state. The Jaina philosophy, therefore, asserts that real and everlasting happiness will be obtained by a person only when the karmas are completely removed from the soul. Further, Jainism firmly believes that even though man is imperfect at present, it is quite possible for him to rid himself of the karmas associated with his soul by his own personal efforts without any help from an outside agency. Moreover, it is quite clear that according to Jaina philosophy the highest happiness consists in securing final emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths and in attaining the state of liberated soul, that is, obtaining moksa or salvation. Furthermore, the Jaina philosophy reiterates that as this world is full of sorrow and trouble, it is quite necessary to achieve the aim of transcendental bliss by a sure method.
When the goal has been ascertained the next question arises regarding the way how to achieve that objective. To this question the Jaina religion has a definite answer. In this connection, the Tattvārth-ādhigama-sutra, the most sacred text of Jainism, emphatically states in its first aphoristic rule, Samyag-darśana-jñāna-chăritrāņi mokşa-mārgah (HPGRAFITTARE Herert:) that is, samyag-darśana (right belief), samyag-jñāna (right knowledge) and saniyak-chāritra (right conduct) together constitute the path to salvation. Further, these three
