Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 5

one should undertake the activities, destined for him, vigorously but without any degree of attachment. It means that one should face each and every situation dispassionately without reacting in terms of craving or aversion. In Jain terminology this is called Jnätä-Drashtä approach, which is similar to Nishkäm Karmayog of Geetä. Their common objective is to enable one to view every situation, comfortable or uncomfortable, with equanimity and without any way being elated or agitated. That would amount to knowing oneself and abiding in one's own blissful nature.
Chapter 3
SAMYAKTVA, THE ESSENCE OF JAINISM
Sammatarayanasäram, Mokkhamahärukkhamoolamidi Bhaniyam; Tam Jänijjai, Nichchhaya-Vavahärasaroovadobheyam.
Saman Suttam (219) Right perception is the essence of the spiritual jewels; it is the root of the great tree of liberation. It needs to be understood from the absolute as well as from the practical point of view,
Utmost importance is attached in Jain tradition to the right approach, which is known as Samyaktva. That is the principal objective of Jain practice and it consists of Samyag Darshan (right perception), Samyag Jnän (right knowledge) and Samyak Charitra (right conduct). Lord Umäswäti therefore begins Tattvärthasutra with Samyagdarshanjnänchäriträni Mokshamärgah. It means that the path of liberation consists of Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnän and Samyak Charitra. Let us therefore try to understand these three concepts.
The first step for achieving any objective is to have a keen desire for it. We have many desires, quite a few of them conflicting with one another. For instance, we may desire to remain healthy. But simultaneously, we may like to eat some food or indulge in some addiction that may not be conducive to health. In that case, our desire to remain healthy cannot materialize. Our desire for gaining any objective should therefore be strong enough and that should be pursued to the exclusion of the desires, which can be detrimental to the attainment of our objective. If we are sure of the objective being in our best interest, that would lead to firm faith therein and a sense of dedication for attaining it. That type of faith is described as right perception.
Once we are clear and certain about our objective, we should gain adequate knowledge for the purpose. Suppose, one wants to be a doctor. In that case, he has to acquire appropriate knowledge of the medical science. Instead of doing that, if he goes in for proficiency in literary works or for knowledge of engineering or of any other science or art, that would not be helpful in achieving the objective of becoming a doctor. Thus gaining right knowledge of the subject is another essential for realizing an objective.
After gaining medical proficiency, if he does not set up practice as a doctor and stays idle or starts some kind of trade or other avocation, the intention of becoming a doctor and knowledge of the medical science acquired for the purpose would be of no avail. Knowledge gained for the purpose has to be effectively used for realizing the objective. Knowledge without practical application remains sterile. Thus if we want to realize any objective, we must have right concept, appropriate knowledge and right type of activity.
The objective of becoming a doctor is not a good analogy for the objective of attaining liberation that we are discussing here. It would, however, be helpful in getting an idea of the three aspects, which in spiritual terminology are called Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnän and Samyak Charitra. They together are known as Samyaktrayi or simply Samyaktva. Most of our prayers are therefore directed towards gaining Samyaktva. Many of our devotional songs express devotee's longing for three jewels. But very few devotees are aware that those jewels denote Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnän and Samyak Charitra. Those three aspects are actually more precious than jewels, because they can lead to liberation.
We do talk of liberation as the abode of happiness and therefore pray for the same. But our concept of happiness usually happens to be inaccurate. It mostly pertains to bodily happiness,