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Religion in everyday life
There are only two ways – the direct path to liberation and the indirect worldly path. The worldly path is full of āśrava or karmic influx. The path of liberation is samvara or blockage of karmic influx. The road that leads to worldly wealth is also that which leads to the increase of karmic burden. The direct path to liberation is that which reduces karmic burden.
An ascetic in his life treads this path illuminated by the Three Jewels of right vision, right knowledge and right practice. And this is the path and the goal of the layperson as well. What is different is the levels at which they follow their vows of truth and non-violence. When Acārya Umāsvāti was asked what was the path of liberation, he answered:
Right vision, right knowledge and right practice constitute the path to liberation.?
The term 'right' refers to an enlightened state. Thus vision, knowledge and practice in their enlightened state are the Three Jewels which illumine the path of liberation. In other words, until the right vision does not dawn in your heart, until you don't become steadfast in truthfulness, until your faith does not stop wavering, knowledge will not arise. Merely reading books, endlessly battling with scriptures and memorizing a few thousand verses will not get you anywhere. Right knowledge can arise only when one becomes steadfast in truth. Lord Mahāvīra has reiterated the same truth:
Without faith, there is no knowledge; without knowledge there is no virtuous conduct; without virtues there is no annihilation of karmas and without annihilation of karmas, there is no liberation. 3
The logical conclusion is that until the vision dawns, knowledge cannot arise. When knowledge arises, the flame of truth will shine before us. Only then can the difference between the worldly existence and the realm of liberation be understood.
samyagdarśana-jñāna-cāritrāņi mokşa-mārgaḥ -- Tattvārtha Sūtra 1.1 nādamsanissa nāņam, nāņeņa vină na humti caranagunā agunissa natthi mokkho, natthi amokkhassa nivvānam - Uttarādhyayana Sūtra 28. 30
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