Jaina Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Nyayavijay
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

Page 99

Jaina Path of Purification (Liberation)
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activities. As soon as it attains right faith, the duration of the period of its transmigratory cycle gets fixed. This stage is the basic ground of the spiritual development. The soul at this stage has steady right faith, but is lacking in the capacity for spiritual self-control in conformity with the right faith.
Let us understand clearly the difference between the two persons-one having wrong faith and the other having right faith. The person possessed of wrong faith does not have any religious feeling. He is destitute of the good mental state which enables one to experience equality and oneness with all living beings. He keeps relation with others with the retaliatory or selfish motive. On the other hand, the person possessed of right faith is saturated with religious feeling and fervour, and has spiritual inclination or attitude. He progresses in the direction of spiritual welfare according to his ability. He has firm conviction that others' souls are like his and therefore he should do to others, as he would be done to by them. If on account of his attachment to worldly objects, he some time performs such bad acts, to achieve his selfish ends, as would do harm to others, his conscience bites him and he repents for his evil acts. He resolves to decrease the defects like anger, etc., and the vicious acts. He lives in conformity with the resolve according to his ability. What is vice and evil from the religious standpoint is not accepted as vice and evil by the one afflicted with wrong faith and inclination (mithyātva). As he is after sensual pleasures, he does not make any distinction between good acts and bad acts, while striving for their attainment. He does not accept the evil path as evil path. He adopts the evil path without the slightest hesitation. Even if he does good to others, he does so with selfish motive, partisan spirit or feeling of pride. On the other hand, the person having right faith exudes spiritual lustre of self-dedication and self-sacrifice. He is permeated with the feeling of universal compassion and friendliness.
5. Deśavirati
To practise properly the householder's vows with right faith is deśavirati. Not complete but partial abstinence from immoral acts is the meaning of the term 'deśavirati'.
6. Pramatta-gunasthāna This is the stage of the monks who have taken the great vows. Though, at this stage, there is complete abstinence from unvirtuous acts, there