Book Title: Path of Arhat
Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi

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Page 106
________________ Journey to Freedom [ 81 This psychological analysis is as much true in the case of a metaphysical doctrine as about a physical phenomenon. The process of apprehension is called 'Darśana' and the culmination of the process into comprehensive perception is called 'Jñana', though the term Samyag-darśana in Jainism, stands for Right faith also but I think that Right perception is more appropriate. Thus a soul tired of enjoying material objects of life and capable to see the futility of pursuing them, turns introvert and looks elsewhere to seek real and permanent happinesshappiness, enduring. At that stage either by his own introspection or by coming into some saintly company he gets a glimpse of Truth. He begins to realize that there is some path worth exploring. His inclination to find out the path is the beginning of the 'Darsana' stage. He begins to 'see'. In Sarskrta the root 'Drs' ( Paśya ) means 'to see'. He now begins to apprehend Reality. This apprehension, this Darsana, should however be 'Samyag', i. e., proper. Nothing which is prejudicial or inhibited can be 'Samyag'. One cannot proceed further from the stage of apprehension if one proceeds with a vacillating mind. The stage of apprehension can carry us further only if we have confidence that the usual worldly path, we followed for ages, has proved futile and therefore we have to find out a new path with open mind and firm determination. This is called "Sraddha'. It is the determination to find out 'Tattvårtha'. The word 'Tattva' means essence. Artha' means 'meaning'. So 'Tattvartha' means meaning of the Real Essence, the Truth. So 'Samyag Darśana', i. e., proper perception is defined as determination to find out real Truth. Acārya Umāsvāti, the venerated writer of the classic Tattvārtha-sūtra' defines? "Samyag Darśana' as "Tattvarthaśraddhānam Samyagdarśanamn", i. e, Determination to find out the Truth ( meaning of the Essence ) is 'Samyag Darsana'. 1. karatefugi fyrafat', Tattvartha-sūtra, I. 2. 6 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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