Jain Journal 1973 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 39

Jainism in the context of Present
World Situation
V. K. JAIN
Right faith, Right knowledge and Right conduct (Jaina Trinity) are said to be the path to liberation of soul from worldly worries and these can be attained only with ceaseless efforts on the path of spiritual progress. Though these are the natural qualities (dharma) of the soul, yet due to certain covers we are unable to perceive it. Let us now consider each one of them in detail.
Right faith (Samyak Darśana): Right faith about the nature of the soul is essential for salvation ; without it, knowledge and conduct remain infested with the evils of mithyātva. Faith in 'Apta, Agama and Guru'! without any reservations, follies and doubts and the renunciation of eight forms of pride is known as Right faith. Jaina philosophy very clearly emphasises that we are not our body, we are not a body having a soul, rather we are souls having a body. We are knowers, our body is not a knower, We should not say, 'I am thin, I am fat rather we should say, 'My body is thin, my body is fat. Samādhi Satak very clearly states: “The cause of the misery of embodiment lies in self identification with the body. Atoms come in and go out of this composite mass called body and occupy the same space as the soul. Yet the ignorant imagines these atoms to be the self through false identification of the body with the immortal self.”
1 Apta here means one who after knowing all dravyas (substances) is in a position
to explain their nature. Agama means sastras containing the teachings of Apta in words. And Guru means one who conducts his life on the tenets of Apta as laid down in Agama.