Aspects of Jaina Religion

Author(s): Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 58

54 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
right
2. Right Belief (1) Meaning of Right Belief
It is clear that out of the three jewels, mentioned above, right belief comes first and that it forms the basis upon which the other two jewels, viz., right knowledge and right conduct, rest. Hence it has been laid down that one must, by all possible means, first attain right belief, i.e., the basic conviction in the fundamentals of Jainism, because it has been asserted that only on the acquisition of right belief, the knowledge and conduct become right.
The term Right Belief has been defind by Achārya Umāsvāmi in his authoritative Jaina sacred text entitled Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra as follows: "Tattvārtha-sraddhānam samyag-darśanam (atatefseli Hepat) --chapter 1, sūtra 2, that is, right belief is the faith in the true nature of the substances as thay are. In other words, right belief means true and firm conviction in the seven principles or tattvas of Jainism as they are, without any perverse notions.
Further, it is maintained that right belief consists in believing that
(i) the Jaina Arhats including the Tirthankaras are the
true Gods, (ii) the Jaina Sāstras are the true scriptures, and (iii) the Jaina Gurus are the true Preceptors. Moreover, it is also asserted that such right belief (a) should have eight angas, i.e., essential requisites, (b) should be free from three kinds of mūdhatās, i.e.,
superstitious beliefs, and (c) should be free from eight kinds of mada, i.e., pride
or arrogance. (2) Requisites of Right Belief
The Jaina scriptures state that the right belief should be characterised by eight angas, i.e., essential requisites or components or limbs, and that these angas determine the