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THE JAINA DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
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existence, is to be understood and measured with right faith, knowledge and conduct.
From the practical point of view, right faith consists in firm belief in the true nature of self, resulting from the knowledge of various substances as they are in the universe.36 That state of the self which understands the substances exactly as they are is known as knowledge. 37 And finally acting in accordance with the result of right faith and knowledge without any hatred or attachment is called right conduct. These three jewels are to be realized in one's self by oneself, which results in the attainment of liberation.38
The three jewels--faith, knowledge and conduct--should be distinguished from the ordinary (vyayahāra) point of view only; from the transcendental (niscaya) point of view, these three are the self. From the transcendental point of view, to attain liberation means to attain purity of the self. He who perceives the self as not bound, not touched, not other than the self, steady and without any difference, understands the whole Jaina doctrine which is the kernel of Jaina scripture.39
Right faith is the cause of right knowledge and right conduct. It acts as a pilot in guiding the self in right direction. It is the very seed of acquiring right path towards liberation. The Uttarādhyayanasütra states that there is no right knowledge without right faith, and without right knowledge there is no right conduct and without right conduct there is no perfection.40 The wrong notions which are the causes of wordly existence can only be eradicated by the possession of right faith. With right faith and right knowledge one purifies one's self. The Sūtrak stāmga states in a similar way that right faith is like an island to those persons who are carried away by the current of mith yātva and suffer its consequences. Right faith is the way to attain liberation. 41
Right faith leads to all kinds of prosperity and ultimately to supreme perfection and final beatitude. Acārya Samantabhadra observes that those whose mind is illumined with right faith, become the lords of splendour, energy, wisdom, power, fame, wealth, victory and greatness; they are born in high families and possess the ability to
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.
Paramātmaprakāśa, II. 15. Ibid., II. 29. Ibid., II. 31. Samayasara, verses 15-16. Uttaradhyayanasūtra, XXVIII-30. Sūtrakstāmga, 1. 11.23.
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