Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 43

36: An Introduction to Jaina Sadhanā
own pure self. Right view-point or right faith is a calm and undisturbed state of mind in which the pure self (suddhātmā) is realised. It is a vision of pure self. In Jainism right faith has been discussed from two points of view - the real and the practical. The practical right faith is a true and firm devotion to the deva, theguru, the dharma and the śāstra, while the real right faith is a firm belief in the true and pure nature of the soul. Though the concepts of faith and devotion are present in Jainism, but Jainism does not believe that the divine grace is essential for the attainment of liberation. According to Jainism the soul itself is the architect of its own destiny, the Jaina religion is the religion of self-help, which is unique in the history of world-religions. However, the Jainas believe that true devotion to the Tirtharkaras yields fruitful results for an aspirant. Though the Tirtharkaras are the object of our worship, yet they do not help directly to an aspirant, except that an aspirant can realise his own real nature through contemplation on their nature, because inherently he possesses the same nature as they have. A Gujarati Jaina poet has expressed this idea in the following verse :
Ajakulagat keseri, lahere nijapadasimha nihāla; Tim prabhu bhakti bhavi lahere, nijātama sambhala.
Just as a cub brought out in herd of sheep realises his real nature as a lion after seeing a lion, so also an aspirant realises his own real nature as Arhat by worshipping the Arhat.
Five Constituents of Right Faith : In Jainism the following have been stated as the five constituents of right faith —
(i) Sama : equanimity or balanced state of mind
(ii) Samvega : the realisation of blissful nature of self or yearning for truth,
(iii) Nirveda : unattachment or indifference,
(iv) Anukampā : to realise others sufferings as one's own and to be sympathetic to them and