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around itself rather than specific perception or cognition, which is termed as knowledge. Thus a person or a living being for that matter, endowed with darśan develops a wider world-view rather than a limited one. This is what distinguishes conation (darśan) from cognition (jñāna). This very conation when coupled with right discrimination that can give its holder a right perspective on things that he perceives around himself, becomes rightconation or Samyagdarśan. It goes without saying that the outlook of a conative seer is much wider in its scope and it includes diverse points of view. In other words we can say that a seer has a synoptic view or a holistic view on things, which is completely comprehensive. In the context of a religious philosophy, however, it would mean having the right-faith or an unwavering belief in that faith. This brings us to the two meanings given to the word darśan - 1. Right-view and 2. Right-faith. In the first sense, the Jaina view ascribes it the quality of having a right-view by rising above attachment and aversion. It implies that one rises above dogma and parochialism. In the second sense it is synonymous with devotion to the view presented by the Prophets that propounded the faith we follow. Here, it is implied that we, the ordinary believers are not wise enough to have a completely comprehensive view and, therefore, we must steadfastly believe in the view presented by the Prophets, who had such comprehensiveness. The Jaina analysts have, over the ages, subscribed to the latter meaning of the term darśan. Vācak Umāsvāti's Tattvārthasūtra mentions, at the very outset that Samyagdarśan is nothing but a firm faith in the fundamental verities enunciated by the seers (Prophets).
Here, we must not gloss over the fact that taken in its second sense, the meaning of darsan militates against a man's reason, against the very speciality that sets him apart from the animal world. However, this is not an irreconcilable conflict. As long as man's reason looks outwards, it is in conflict with faith; as
SAMYAGDARÁAN (RIGHT VISION): 123
