ISJS Transactions 2018 07 To 09 Vol 02 No 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 32

Same sequence for attaining liberation is preached by Acārya Kundakunda." Same chronological order is described in samana-suttam, it says that without samyak-darśana, samyak-jñāna is not possible. Without samyak-jñāna, samyak-caritra is not possible. Without samyak-cāritra, zeroing of Karmas (mokşa) is not possible. Without moksa, Bliss (nirvāna) is not possible. Acārya Amrtacandra writes that by any means you must listen to fundamental truths. As a result, firm determination of soul's nature that is different than body will be perceived by you (samyak-darśana)." Once samyak-darśana is there then samyak-cāritra will easily follow.
Approach to shed Karmas
According to Jain philosophy, the causes of bandha or the karmic bondage in the order they are required to be eliminated by a soul for spiritual progress are:
1. Mithyātva (a deluded world view): The deluded worldview is the misunderstanding
as to how this world really functions or deluded thinking. 2. Avirati (a vowless life): Avirati is the inability to refrain voluntarily from the evil
actions that harms oneself and others. The state of avirati can only be overcome by
observing the minor vows of a layman. 3. Pramāda (laxity of conduct): This third cause of bondage consists of absent
mindedness, lack of enthusiasm towards acquiring merit and spiritual growth, and
improper actions of mind, body and speech without any regard to oneself or others. 4. Kaşāya (passions): The four passions - anger, pride, deceit and greed - are the
primary reason for the attachment of the karmas to the soul. They keep the soul immersed in the darkness of delusion leading to deluded conduct and unending cycles
of reincarnations. 5. Yoga: Activities of mind, speech and body.
This is the order in which we need to remove karmas. First our main focus should be to eradicate deluded view and achieve samyak-darśana (Right perception). Ācārya Amrtacandra says that "Out of three constituents of the path to liberation (samyak-darsana, samyak-jñāna and samyak-căritra), sincere efforts should be made to first acquire right faith (samyakdarśana). Only on the acquisition of right faith can knowledge and conduct become right knowledge (samyak-jñāna) and right conduct (samyak-cāritra)." Once deluded view is replaced with right perception, then remaining four becomes powerless, and it becomes so easy to remove them also. This philosophy also expounded by Ācārya Umāsvāti." It can be well understood by following example. Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai (a renowned Jain preacher
The Three Jewels 25
and follower of Shrimad Rajchandra) used to give this example to explain the order of shedding karmas.
Suppose person 'A' owes person 'B' $99999 and 'A' wants to pay back. 'A' has decided to pay the exact amount by removing one by one 9 so first 'A' has to pay a big chunk of 90,000 to remove first 9. Now it remained 9999. To remove second 9, 'A' has to pay 9000. Now remained 999. To remove third 9, 'A' has to pay 900. Now remained 99. To remove fourth 9, A has to pay 90 and at last 'A' has to pay 9 to complete the payment.
As explained in the above example, paving 90.000 off makes one so much debt free similarly