ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

SR No.: 007712
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2012
Total Pages: 404
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 50

B.2.1.6
Seven Verities (Tattvas) in Jainism (Based on Tattvārtha-sūtra)
Dr. Anekant Kumar Jain
Introduction Total release of karmic matter from the self (soul) by self-realization is liberation/ emancipation/salvation. Everybody feels pain in transmigration and wants to eliminate this pain. Right belief-knowledge-conduct together constitutes the path of liberation. Umāsvāmi, the Ācārya revered by all sects of Jains, wrote an important text in Samskıta in the first century AD. This text called Tattvārtha-sūtra, considered as Bible of Jains, has ten chapters and 357 Sūtras. This text is also called as text for attaining liberation (Moksa Šāstra). Tattvārtha-sūtral describes Samyagdarśana, jñāna and cāritra as means of emancipation.
Umāsvāmi defined right belief as firm belief in the true nature of the principles/verities/ tattvas. Right belief arises from the innate disposition or by acquisition of right knowledge The living being (jīva), the non living beings (ajīva), influx (āsrava), bondage (bandha), stoppage (sanvara), dissociation (nirjarā) and liberation (mokşa) constitute the seven tattvas Iverities. Sūtras 2nd and 4th from first chapter of Tattvārtha-sūtra define right belief and verities.
This classification of the fundamental principles into seven verities is metaphysical with overtones of spiritual values. To these seven verities, merit (punya) and demerit (pāpa) have been added and the nine entities called padārthas giving them a flavor of religious content.
1. Jiva, the living being In this world, we do not meet jīva or pure soul as such. Jiva or the living being is a mix of pure soul and non-living being i.e. pure soul bonded with karmic matter. In common parlance, jīva is translated as soul or living being. An average individual, due to ignorance, regards his body as his soul and all thoughts and attention go to keep it in comfort. The root cause of our suffering lies in our ignorance of the essential characteristics of our soul.
1 Samyagdarśanajñānacāritrānimokşamārgah Tattvärtha-sutra, 1.1) 2 Tattvārthaśraddhānam samyagdarśanam, ibid 1.2 3 Jjīvājīvāsravabandhsamvaranirjarāmokşastattvam, lbid 1.3
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 37 of 385