Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

Author(s): Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Page 88

Somewhere, observing the soul entity as different from other entities is believed to be samyagdarśana. Elsewhere, cognition of just one soul is said to be the sign of samyagdarśana. In some scriptures to have faith in Arihanta Deva, Nirgrantha Guru, and religion devoid of hiṁsā is said to be samyagdarśana.
Besides the last one all the other definitions are almost same, there is hardly any difference in them. Fundamentals are said to be seven - jīva (living), ajīva (non-living), āśrava (inflow of karmas), bandha (bondage of karmas), saṁvara (blocking the inflow), nirjarā (shedding the karmas), and moksa (liberation). Although there are infinite fundamental realities, here we are concerned with only liberation and therefore only seven fundamentals have been taken into account here. Of these the basic fundamentals are only two - living and non-living. Remaining five are the variants manifesting due to various combination and separation of these two. One who rightly knows living and non-living has faith in the self and the other'. After this when he understands the self as different than the other' he may pursue the path of liberation to attain beatitude of the self. And when he understands 'the other as different from the self he should become apathetic towards the other entities, renounce attachment, aversion, fondness and other passions and steer the self towards liberation. Therefore, having perception of and faith in these two entities leads to liberation. In order to determine the form of the self or soul it is imperative to determine the form of the entity different than the soul or non-soul or non-living.
Living and non-living are the normal fundamentals. The remaining five are modes of living and non-living and are special fundamentals. By knowing these five modes one develops faith in the endeavour towards liberation. If one knows the form of liberation he may consider it to be beneficial to soul and take steps to attain that. Therefore, one should develop faith in liberation. Samvara and nirjarā are the means of liberation. If one recognizes these he may take steps that may lead to efforts to block the inflow of karmas and shedding of acquired karmas. Therefore, one should develop faith in samvara and nirjarā. If one knows the process of inflow and bondage of karmas he may take steps to block and remove karmas. Therefore, one should develop faith in āśrava and bandha.