Jain Digest 2018 10

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 23

JainDigest It might be rare to see a shift in faith, goal, thinking and attitude but is not impossible. Let us explore further what the Jain scriptures say about achieving Samyak Darshan. How to achieve Samyak Darshan? In Tatvarth Sutra, Bodhi or self-realization is defined as follows: Tatvarth Shraddhanam Saymakdarshanam (chapter 1, sutra 2) Tad Nisargmad Adhigamatva (Chapter 1- sutra 3) When a worldly soul awakens in human life to understand and develop right faith in the teachings of Lord Mahavir, he becomes eligible to attain self-realization. And the self-realization can be carried over from previous life as all Tirthankaras are born with self-realization, or it can be attained in present life with proper spiritual practice described below. Once a person commits to spiritual growth, he/she needs to acquire five precious attributes of self realization as described by Shrimad Rajchandra in Patrank 135 1) Sham: It means calming down or pacification of passions. Worldly soul is in bondage due to the attachments and aversions towards external entities such as people and material objects. The passions such as anger, ego, greed, deceit are the inner enemies that prevent one from making spiritual progress. These obstacles are the primary root cause of bondage and misery. The good news is these obstacles which originated due to the delusion or ignorance of self can be tamed and dissolved by understanding and contemplating on Bhavanas and by seeking guidance of a Sadguru to pursue right spiritual path. 2)Samveg: It means burning desire for liberation. We need to develop a strong desire to understand, realize, experience who we really are. Achieving the blissful state where all worldly desires are dissolved should be the only goal of our precious and rare human life. A true commitment to studying the scriptures, attend satsangs and discourses, practice what we have learned is necessary. 3) Nirved: It means detachment from worldly pleasures. One has to realize that "since eternity I have been trying to find peace and happiness in external objects. It is time now I stopped looking for worldly pleasures and find the eternal happiness within me'. 4) Astha: It means genuine faith in the teachings of the spiritual masters. Since at this stage one has not experienced the soul and its blissful state, all his/her efforts will require a genuine faith in the spiritual master or Guru. Such faith is of utmost importance in order to achieve Samyak Darshan. 5) Anukampa: It means compassion for all living beings. This is a natural outcome after one firmly believes that he/she is not the body but a soul. Then the person sees every living being as a soul and develops compassion for them. Guidance from the Guru, satsang, contemplation, introspection, meditation and experimentation are the tools we can use to turn our focus within. We are so fortunate that the three revered Sutras in Chaitya Vandan keep on reminding and resetting our focus on attaining Bodhi or self realization daily: For example, Namuthunam sutra states Arihanta is "Bodhidayanam and Sharan dayanam" meaning grace of Lord Mahavir is upon us to attain self realization every time we recite this sutra with proper meaning, Loggas Sutra states" Arogya-Bohilabham, Samahivaram Uttamam Dintu" meaning asking God for blessing us with good health and Samyak Darshan and Samadhi. And Jayvihray sutra teaches us to pray for "Samahimaram cha Bohilabho" meaning peaceful death with self-realization. BODHI DURLABH BHAVANA - CONTEMPLATION OF RARITY OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE Thinking that it is very difficult for the transmigrating soul to acquire right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct in this world is Bodhi Durlabh Bhavana. We should take full advantage of the opportunity and put in our full effort to achieve Samyak Darshan