Message of the Religion of Ahimsa

Author(s): A Chakravarti
Publisher: Z_Vijay_Vallabh_suri_Smarak_Granth_012060.pdf

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CHAKRAVARTI: MESSAGE OF AHIMSA
based upon superstitious faith in all sorts of Samnyāsins. Very often undesirable crooks put on kāṣāya, the robe of a samnyāsiand trade upon the simplicity of unthinking people. These false ascetics very often mislead the people as to true form of religion. They cheat the people to secure their own benefits. Getting rid of all kinds of superstitious belief, a person gets firmly established on the foundation of Samyak Darśana, Right Faith. Getting firmly established in Right Faith or Samyak Darśana is the first step firmly established in Right Faith or Samyak Darśana is the first step in spiritual development. But that alone is not enough. Right Faith no doubt places a person on the correct path. But that alone cannot lead to complete spiritual development. This right faith must lead to Right Knowledge or Samyak jñāna. Equipped with correct faith one must try to secure correct knowledge of things in reality. Unless one acquires an accurate knowledge of things and persons, unless one understands the true nature of oneself one cannot achieve anything.
Therefore, an accurate knowledge of the nature of Reality is a necessary condition to spiritual development. These two alone, right faith and right knowledge, would not be sufficient. Acquisition of correct knowledge must lead to correct action. What is the use of correct knowledge if it is not going to guide you in action? Hence correct action in the light of correct knowledge is a necessary condition for complete spiritual development. Hence Jainism maintains that all these three aspects must be present in a person if he is to reach his spiritual goal. This truth is expressed by the Jaina Thinkers in the following statement :
सम्यक् दर्शनशानचारित्राणि मोक्षमार्गः। “Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct together constitute the path of Salvation."
In this respect Jainism differs from other Darśanas, some of which emphasise only faith, some emphasise knowledge and some emphasise conduct. Faith or Bhakti alone is considered enough to lead to salvation. Knowledge alone is supposed to be sufficient to achieve salvation. Conduct or activity alone is considered to be enough to secure salvation. Such one-sided religious beliefs are dismissed by the Jaina Thinkers. They maintain that all the three must be present together to achieve the purpose. Very often the following analogy is quoted.
Salvation implies escape from Saṁsāra which is associated with birth, ald age and death. Every person aims to reach a place which is