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 71

SCHOOL OF
TIONAL
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
INN STUDIES
prescribed for a layman, srāvaka, in Jainism is inspired by the 5 criterions of belief / faith noted above:
1. An excited person, who becomes the victim of his own ill-considered actions, and is overcome by such negative ideas as that of rage, hatred and jealousy, cannot focus his energies with a single-minded devotion to the purpose of liberation. The calmness comes from the realization of the true aim of life.
2. A true aspirant of liberation is not only detached from all worldly pleasures but is also afraid of them because these allurements can take him away from the right path. This is called samvega and comes from the realization of the fact that happiness comes from within and not from without, hence he remains absent of hankering.
3. A right believer is not a bigoted, hard-hearted and bitter man but has respect for all, willing to let others lead a happy life, and has tendency of proving helpful in the miseries of others.
4. He understands the equality of all.
5. He has friendship for all (maitri) but feels special bondage of kinship for those who are spiritually advanced (pramoda). Those who are away from truth, he tries to improve their lot (karma). But if they do not listen to him, he does not develop any hatred for them; he rather becomes indifferent to them (mādhyasthya).
Besides these five primary moral qualities, a right believer is asked to renounce eight types of pride, i.e. the position of relatives on the maternal side (jātimada), the position of relatives on the paternal side (kulamada), beauty (rūpamada), strength (saktimada), austerities (tapomada) and honour (arcanamada).
The awakening of belief/faith: the spiritual awakening of a person sometimes takes place after a prolonged association with saints and study of religious literature. It can also take place spontaneously without any effort. This awakening is called samyagdarśana i.e. right belief or right view of things. This right view is technically called samyagdarśana which we have rendered as right belief/faith. Belief in essence is a kind of knowledge based on the vision of truth. In Jainism, this belief is explained as the consequence of lessening the intensity of passions as anger, pride deceit, and greed. These passions have a deluding faith. They act as impediments to spiritual awakening. These impediments are due to Karman, which covers and mutilates the inherent qualities of the soul.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0