Rajgeeta English Translation and Comentry on Atmasiddhi Shastra

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Mission

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Räjgeetä
There are different viewpoints from which an object or situation can be presented. When it is presented from one particular viewpoint, it is called a Naya. Jainism specifies seven categories of Naya, but they can be classified in two broad categories, viz. (1) absolute viewpoint known as Nishchay Naya, and (2) practical or worldly viewpoint known as Vyavahär Naya. When an object is described in its pure unadulterated form, it is called Nishchay Naya. The soul, in its true form, is pure, blissful consciousness; it is full of happiness, knowledge, perception, etc. To describe it that way is Nishchay Naya. The worldly soul is, however, found in embodied, unhappy and ignorant state smeared with Karma. To describe it in that way is Vyavahär Naya.
Both these viewpoints are correct in their own context and should therefore be taken into consideration for reaching the right conclusion. If one adopts only the absolute viewpoint, he would come to the conclusion that soul is immutable and incorruptible. As such, he would tend to believe that devotion, detachment, restraints, etc. are of no avail and would therefore give them up. Resorting to the absolute viewpoint to the exclusion of the practical or worldly viewpoint thus leads to illusive conclusion. The term for that illusive impression is Abhäs. Exclusively resorting to the absolute viewpoint is therefore not Nishchay Naya; it is Nishchayäbhäs, meaning illusory absolute viewpoint. Similarly considering the practical viewpoint to the exclusion of the absolute viewpoint is not Vyavahär Naya, it is Vyavahäräbhäs.
Lifeless ritualists and bare knowledgeable ones were described in the last chapter. A lifeless ritualist insists on ritual practices to the exclusion of knowledge and is therefore Vyavahäräbhäsi. A bare knowledgeable person insists on the absolute view to the exclusion of worldly
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