Book Title: Doctrines of Jainism
Author(s): Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi Godiji Jain Derasar Mumbai

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Page 37
________________ The Doctrines of the Jainas scepticism, (4) veneration (5) wrong belief caused by ignorance and (6) inborn error. Samvara is the principle of self-control by which the influx of sins is checked. The category of samvara comprehends the whole sphere of right conduct. It is an aspect of tapas. Some hold that it is the gradual cessation of the influx into the soul along with the development of knowledge. Faith is produced by nature (nisarga), instruction (upadesa), command (ajna), study of the sutras, suggestion (bija), comprehension of the meaning of sacred love (abhigama), complete course of study (vistara), religious exercise (kriya), brief exposition (samkse pa) and reality (dharma).1 According to the Buddhists, faith is the basic principle of all good deeds. It is the germinating principle of human culture. It is characterised by two marks : (1) tranquilising in the sense of making all obstacles disappear and rendering consciousness clear; and (2) leaping high to achieve what has not been achieved, to master what has not been mastered, and to realise what has not been realised. Faith is nothing but trust in the Buddha, Dharma, (Doctrine). and Sangha (Order). The celebrated Pali Scholiast Buddhaghosa points out that faith is transforming itself into bhakti or devotion. It is associated with prema or love. The noble eightfold path (ariya atthangiko maggo) is the development of the five controlling faculties and powers, one of which is faith or sraddha. 1. Uttaradhyayana sutra, XXVIII, 16: Nisagguvaesarui anarui suttaviyaraimeva Abhigama-Vitthararui kiriya-samkhevadhammarui. Dharma has been translated by Jacobi as 'Law' (Jaina sutras, II, S.B.E., p. 154). Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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