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**Stable Existence: The Scope of Self-Realization, Faith, and Conduct**
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Self-realization is the ultimate goal, the ultimate refuge. Knowledge is the means to achieve other virtues.
"The formless, the one who collects, the one who differentiates, is the embodied one;
The knowledge of the two, the consciousness, the action of grasping the object..." - Vasupujya
The self-realization, the experience of the self, is the knowledge of the self. This self-realization has an inseparable relationship with right faith, an inseparable relationship that cannot exist without the other. In other words, if there is right faith, there is self-realization; if there is self-realization, there is right faith; if there is no right faith, there is no self-realization; if there is no self-realization, there is no right faith.
Therefore, due to the mutual pervasiveness of both, it can be said that right faith is self-realization, that self-realization which is pure and self-existent. In other words, it should be understood that where the experience of the pure self exists, there is right faith. Thus, pure self-realization is the inseparable primary characteristic of right faith.
Furthermore, let us examine how virtues like right faith, etc., are characteristics of right vision: "The faith in the true meaning is indicative" - The Tattvartha Sutra states that faith in the true meaning is a characteristic of right vision. This faith in the true meaning, the object of faith, is of four types: (1) Faith - the inclination towards the true meaning. (2) Faith - the affinity, the feeling of oneness, the feeling of self. (3) Perception and acceptance of the true meaning, love. (4) Conduct - action in accordance with it. This is a progressive sequence. The first three are in the form of knowledge, they are synonymous with knowledge; and conduct is the action of the mind, speech, and body in virtuous deeds. Whether these four are collectively or individually present, they may or may not be characteristics of right vision, they may be present with right faith or with wrong faith, or this faith may or may not be present with right vision. Therefore, this faith, etc., is not itself a characteristic of right vision, but if it is accompanied by self-realization, then it is a virtue, a characteristic of right vision; without self-realization, it is a semblance of virtue, i.e., it is not a virtue. Thus, if all of these, including faith, etc., are accompanied by self-realization, then it is right faith, but if it is accompanied by a semblance of faith, etc., like wrong faith, etc., then it is not right faith. In other words, if there is faith, etc., but not pure self-realization, then there is no right faith; if there is faith, etc., and pure self-realization, then there is right faith.
There are two types of this faith, etc. - right and wrong. (1) If it is accompanied by self-realization, then it is right faith, etc., and it is the only true faith worthy of being called faith. (2) If it is accompanied by self-realization...