Facets of Jaina Religiousness in Comparative Light

Author(s): L M Joshi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 50

JAINA CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY PENTAD
It is not without significance that the word 'Right Vision' (samyagdarśana) is mentioned as the first constituent factor of the pathway to ultimate Release in the first aphorism of the Tattvarthasutra which gives a summary of the essentials of Jainism. This text defines 'Right Vision' as faith in the principles ascertained as they are (tattvärtha śraddhanam samyagdarbanam) 13 J.L. Jaini gives 'belief or conviction" as the meaning of kraddhanam. S.A. Jaina translates śraddha as 'belief' and darkana as 'faith',14
13
Acarya Pujyapada, in his comment on this Sutra, has pointed out that 'Right Vision' or 'faith' is of two kinds: impure (saräga) and pure (vitarāga); the former is characterized by tranquillity (upalama), fear of existence-in-flux (samvega), love (anukampa), devout belief (astikya) etc., while the latter is concerned only with selfpurification (armaśuddhi),15 We might add here that faith in the purification of the self is the heart of Jaina Dharma.
The first Sutra of the ancient Jaina Canon exhorts the disciple to be firm on his faith. One should follow that faith (saddhäe) with which one had renounced one's home life and thus overcome doubts." A person, inspired by deep faith in the doctrine of self-purification taught by the Jina, renounces home life and becomes a mendicant monk with a view to effecting purification of his self. His entire religious effort is rooted in this faith. Another canonical Sutra points out that hearing the Dharma is scarce and having faith in the Dharma is supremely scarce (saddha parama dullaha)."At another place this scripture teaches that "faith will enable us to put away impurity" (saddha khamam ne vinaittu rägam). These statements remind us of several similar sayings found in Buddhist sacred texts. For example, consider the following
18
passages:
41
"Faith is the excellent wealth of a man" (saddhidha vittam purisassa settham)." "By faith one crosses the flood (of samsara)" (saddhaya tarati ogham)."
"Just as Vakkalin was released by faith (muttasaddho), and Bhadrävudha and Alavi-Gautama also won it the same way, similarly, Pingiya, you too will be
12.
Tattvarthasutra, I. 1-2.
13.
Tattvartha Sutram: A Treatise on the Essentials of Jainism, p. 4.
14. Reality, p. 4.
15.
Sarvarthasiddhi on Tattvarthasutra, I. 2. p. 7.
16. Acarangasutra, I. 3.18 (Sutt ägame, vol. I, p. 2).
17.
Uttaradhyayanasutra, III. 8-9.
Ibid., XIV. 28.
18.
19. Suttanipata (Nalanda edition), p. 296, verse 184 (P.T.S, edition, verse 181). Ibid. (Nalanda edition), p. 296, verse 186 (P.T.S. edition, verse 183).
20.