Jain Journal 2000 07

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

Page 33

SADHAK:SĀMYAGDARŚANA
31 revulsion at the sight of human sickness, insanity or ugliness. He does not hate or condemn others on grounds of religion, race, colour, creed or nationality. Not only he avoids hating others, he is also enjoined to practice vātsalya (disinterested affection or selfless love) for the fellow beings, dedicating his life to the service and support of all human beings without any distinction of race, religion, sex or nationality.
Another characteristic of a Samyag-drsti is upagūhana (tendency to cover up or hide from public view the shortcomings of persons) or upavshana, that is cultivation of virtuous dispositions of honesty, gratitude, ahimsā (non-violence), forgiveness, modesty, straightforwardness, etc. When people deviate from the path of righteousness under the influence of greed, possessiveness, conceit and pride and indulge in aggressiveness and exploitation of the weak, a Samyag-drsti endeavours to re-establish them on the path of righteousness (sthitikarana). Lastly, he tries to propagate the values of life (prabhāvanā) by making good ways of life, of thinking and doing things widely known and easily accessible to people at large the world over through publications, radio, television, internet, etc.
Conclusion
As a result of samyag-darśana, one becomes an entirely transformed being. His attitude towards life, his outlook of the world and worldly things, the basis of his relations with others, his conception and assessment of values all are changed. This miraculous transformation is evidenced in the person's attitude and behaviour by the five tendencies (calmness, enthusiasm, detachment, compassion and acceptance of reality) which become automatically manifest in a person gifted with samyag-darśana and are, as it were, its differentiate.
This transformation of individual consciousness rarely occurs overnight. It is a matter of growth and the following of a plan with a fixed mental intent. That is why a life of following discipline, selfrestraint, the five abstentions or vows (non-injury, truthfulness, nonstealing, sex-fidelity and setting a limit to the maximum wealth or worldy objects one would possess together with their augmenting and supporting vows, five Samiti (carefulness) (in moving, speaking, eating, keeping and receiving things and evacuating bowels), three kinds of self-control in mind, speech and body, twelve reflections and ten virtues (forgiveness, humility, straightforwardness, truth, purity of body and mind, self-restraint, austerities, renunciation, non-acquisitiveness, and chastity) is considered essential. Thus, samyag-darśana not only enables an individual to obtain peace of mind and happiness, but also facilitates social harmony and peace in the world.