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30 The Path to Real Nature
or bad (sinful) deeds, the camera remains a camera and does not become impure by itself.
The objective of this narration is not to advocate that one should shun good deeds and resort to bad deeds but to explain that these by themselves do not constitute the path to Moksha which lies in realisation of eternal nature of pure soul. For example, when a person is in jail the question whether the handcuff is made of gold or steel (iron) is immaterial. As far as the status of bondage is concerned, both are alike although one can differentiate between gold and steel in terms of colour, place of mining, maker of handcuffs (goldsmith or ironsmith), value, etc., but this is of no avail as the person is interested in liberation from bondage. One that leads to bondage cannot be termed as good from any perspective.
Pure Soul as Basis of Three Jewels - Jainism deals with real substances like any science. As mentioned earlier, there are six substances and each of these substances have infinite properties and forms and have to be analysed systematically and scientifically. Thus, several branches of knowledge such as theory of causation, Karma, physics, mathematics, philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, cybernetics, physiology of human body, etc., are needed. There is no need of any blind belief or faith. Each aspect, property or form is to be understood in terms of various tests such as past knowledge, theory, logic, present experience, experience of others and so on. Eternal principles are discussed in all dimensions and have eternal relevance for all times, people, space, etc. Knowledge of this eternal reality is right knowledge, its perception is right perception and conduct based on eternal reality is right conduct. These three jewels thus have scientific basis and Jainism will ever remain a science par excellence. These three jewels of right knowledge, perception
