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CHAPTER IV
THE PATH OF THREE JEWELS
We have seen that some systems of Indian philosophy like Sankhya and Vedanta hold knowledge (tatvajñāna) to be the means of liberation, Other systems like Mimämsä hold karman or right action to be superior to any other thing. The followers of bhakti-cult hold devotion and faith to be the only way to liberation.
The position of Jainism here also, as elsewhere, is reconciliatory. In fact, right faith, right knowledge and right conduct cannot exist exclusively of each other. It is true that right conduct is the direct means of liberation, but right conduct with right faith and right knowledge only can lead to liberation.3
From real point of view right attitude, right knowledge and right conduct can be summarised in one word 'selfabsorption'. From practical point of view right faith means faith in seven predicaments of Jainism, whereas right knowledge consists in a knowledge thereof. Right conduct is the conduct based on detachment."
1. Uttaradhyayana, 28.2.
2. चारित्रमन्ते गृह्यते मोक्षप्राप्तेः साक्षात्कारणमिति ज्ञापनार्थम् ।
-Pujyapada on Tattvarthasutra, 9.18.
3. अतः सम्यग्दर्शनं सम्यग्ज्ञानं सम्यक्चारित्रमित्येतत्त्रितय समुदितं मोक्षस्य
साक्षान्मार्गो वेदितव्यः ।
-Ibid, 1.1.
4. आदा खु मज्झणाणं आदा मे दंसणं चरितं च ।
-Samayasara, 277.
5. Tattvarthasutra, 1.2.
6. येन येन प्रकारेण जीवादयः पदार्था व्यवस्थितास्तेन तेनावगमः
सम्यग्ज्ञानम् |
1
-Pujyapada on Tattvarthasutra, 1.1.
7. रायादी परिहरणं चरणं ।
-Samayasara, 155.
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