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JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
PATH OF LIBERATION IN THE JAIN
SCRIPTURES. As the eight-fold path has been said to be the means of liberation in the Buddhist scriptures, so the three-fold path has been said to be the means of Nirvana in the Jaina Scriptures.
This three-fold path is contained in the eight-fold path and vice versa. This three-fold path is called Ratnatrya Dharma or the Truth of the three gems. It is a combination of Samyakdarsana, right view or belief, Samyak jnana, right knowledge, Samyakchâritra, right conduct.
The Jain Saint Kunda Kunda Acharya says in Samayasâra :
सण णाण चरित्राणी सेविदव्वाणी साहुणा णिचं । साणि पुणशाणतिण्णिवि अप्पाणंचेव णिच्छयदो ॥ Damsana nâna charittâni, sevi davvâni sahuna
nichcham, Taņi puna jâna tinnivi appânam cheva nichchhayado
19.
“A monk must always follow right belief, right knowledge and right conduct ; from the real stand-point, know these three to be the self only."
Jain philosophy, when it describes a thing from the practical point of view, analyses it into kinds and divisions; but when it describes a thing from the real stand-point, it thinks of it as an indivisible whole.
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