Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

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SHASHI BHUSHAN PRASAD SINHA
its importance all the more clearly. At the very outset, it must be mentioned that the Jaina ethics is a vast subject and it is not possible to mention every detail in this brief paper, hence we shall confine here mainly to ‘Tattvārtha sūtra' of Umāswāti. This book is really historically and philosophically important so far as Jainism is concerned. Although this book discusses various aspects of the Jaina philosohy yet it is seen that this begins with the path of liberation. The very first sūtra runs as follows: “Samyagdarśanajñānacārtrānı mokşamārgah”. This means that the road to liberation consists of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. These three are known as 'three gems' of Jainism. In fact, they are the three jewels or gems as they contain every thing that is needed for moral or spiritual perfection or realisation. If we study these three a bit seriously and sincerely, it becomes crystal clear that essentials of Buddha's eight-fold path or Patañjali's eight-fold path of yoga or any other such path are explicitly or implicitly included in these three jewels of Jainism. Before evaluating this path, it is appropriate to briefly discuss these three. Right faith is not blind faith or something like that. Manibhadra clearly emphasises this point when he says that Jaina approach is rationalistic and never dogmatic or something like that. It is belief or conviction in things as they are. It is an attitude of respect towards truth and is very much needed during the present times which is characterised to a great extent by lack of confidence in truth. This element of respect is not only a moral or spiritual pre-requisite but this is also of pragmatic or practical significance in each and every sphere of our activity today also.
Coming to right knowledge, we see that it is the true and certain knowledge of reality as presented by jaina philosophers. It is “the detailed cognition of the real nature of the ego and 1. Tattvärtha Satram By Umasvati Acharya, page 3.
Originally edited by Late J. L. Jaini. Republished by Barrister Champat
Rai Jain Trust, Delhi, 1956. 2. Ibid, sūtra 2, page 4