$JES 401 Jain Philosophy and Practice 2 Level 4 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 41

•
•
Six Sthänaka (Bases):
• Soul exists
•
Soul is eternal
Soul is the doer of Karma
Soul bears the consequences
• There is liberation (Moksha)
•
•
There is a way to attain liberation.
Eight qualities indicative of Samyaktva:
•
·
Right belief is the support for realizing the true qualities of the soul
Right belief is the container for the religion
Right belief is the treasure house for practicing the right conduct.
•
·
•
Devotion (Bhakti) - devotion to Jina and the right guru
Remorse (Nindä) - Remorse felt by a devotee for committing any act under the influence of passion, hate or delusion for the sake of the spouse, children, other relatives, or friends.
Repentance (Garhä): Repentance expressed in the form of Älochanä made in the presence of a right guru for faults committed under the influence of passion, hate and delusion.
Affection (Vätsalya): Kindness to all living beings
Freedom from fear: Strong determination to follow the path of righteousness without any fear
Unswerving conviction (Amoodha-drashti): Disapproval of the wrong formalities and wrong rituals
• Edification (Upagooihana, Upabrmhana): The removal of any reproach leveled at any Jain by others.
Pilgrimage to the Tirthas (Tirtha Sevä): The term Tirtha means the places of birth, consecration, enlightenment, and Nirvana of the Jinas or a temple or the fourfold Jain Sangha.
After having developed the right belief, the Shrävak is ready to take some or all of the 12 vows of the householder.
Samyag Jnän (Right Knowledge)
Nature of Right Knowledge
Right Knowledge is "that knowledge which reveals the nature of things neither insufficiently, nor with exaggeration, nor falsely, but exactly as it is and with certainty". Right Knowledge is having full comprehension of the real nature of soul and non-soul (i.e., matter) and that such knowledge should be free from doubt, perversity, vagueness, or indefiniteness.
From the practical point of view, Right Knowledge means proper knowledge of the six universal substances and nine principles or Nine Tattvas.
The six Universal Substances are: Jiva (living beings), Pudgalästikäya (Matter), Dharmästikäya (Medium of Motion), Adharmästikäya (Medium of Rest), Äkäshästikäya (Space), and Käl (Time).
Nine Tattvas or principles are: Jiva (living beings), Ajiva (non-living matter), Punya (virtuous Karma), Päp (non-virtuous Karma), Äsrava (influx of Karma), Bandha (bondage of Karma), Samvar (stoppage of influx of Karma), Nirjarä (eradication of Karma), and Moksha (liberation).
Jain scriptures assert that knowledge is perfect when it does not suffer from any false element like Mithyätva, i.e., wrong Faith. Mithyätva is the enemy of Right Knowledge as it corrupts both
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2
41