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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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that Jainism does not lay proper stress on knowledge. Jain religion clearly declares: "Salvation is obtained only with knowledge and righteous conduct." Moreover, Jain religion frequently bows down to sun of knowledge which dispels darkness of ignorance and delusion.
Jain religion clearly holds: "knowledge brings about retrogression from sinful acts, inclination for meritorious acts and acquisition of discipline".
Thus how can one say that no stress is laid on knowledge, in Jainism. Knowledge according to Jainism is two-fold. False knowledge and right knowledge. False knowledge cannot help to traverse the worldly ocean but the right knowledge can, and that is why every aspirant should aspire to achieve right knowledge.
Knowledge of a man with false views is false knowledge-That is ignorance. Man with right beliefs or views holds right knowledge. Here right knowledge only is applauded.
Some argue: "Knowledge is sacred, how can such knowledge have two varieties like right and false knowledge ?" We reply: "Water is sacred but when it drops in the mouth of a serpent it becomes poison. Same is the case here. Man with perverted view when reads good scriptures then it results in perverted knowledge, but a man with a rightful view or conviction derives right knowledge from those very scriptures".
Scriptures lay down eight forms of conduct regarding knowledge for advancement of right knowledge.
Time, discipline, honours, access to scriptural studies, nonconcealment of the identity of the teacher, accuracy of letters, accuracy of meaning and accuracy of meaning and letters are the eight forms of regulations laid down for propagation of true knowledge.
Here the word knowledge means scriptural knowledge as learning and teaching here refer to such knowledge only. Right knowledge of the fundamental entities revealed by the great gods can be had only by learning and teaching the holy scriptures. 'Swadhyaya'spiritual study is the popular word for scriptural studies. Such 'Swadhyaya' is to be carried out both by a monk and a lay disciple ascending their spiritual stages A boy studying in primary
