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RELIGION & CULTURE OF THE JAINS
Right Faith From the practical point of view, however, samyag-darśana denotes right, proper, adequate, firm and unflinching conviction, belief and faith in the nature of the reality, or, which means the same thing, in what the seven essentials (tattvas)-the soul, the non-soul or matter particularly in the form of karman, the influx, the bondage, the stoppage of the influx, partial dissociation of karman and total liberation-indicate, imply and denote. For obtaining correct knowledge of these tattvas or the Reality, one has to rely and put faith in the true scriptures (agama), and consequently in the authentic and authoritative source of the āgama, that is, the Āpta (Arhat, Kevalin, Jina or Tirthankara) who is the true diety and is characterised by complete absence of all physical, mental and spiritual flaws, defects and shortcomings, by omniscience, and by non-volitional propagation of the truth for the good of all and sundry. The true ascetic gurus who strictly adhere to, follow and practise the teachings of the Jina and preach them by example and precept, as well as the path or dharma, are also objects of right faith.
Samyag-darśana may originate in an individual in the natural course, or as a result of some shock or extraordinary experience, or the study of the scriptures. Any of these and the like causes may lead to or help in the realisation of the reality, the truth. In early stages it may be merely a glimpse of the Truth, but it is a real and definite glimpse which cements the person's faith. It is a faith, but by no means a blind faith. The Jina never asked anybody to take his word for granted, or to believe in him and his teachings blindly. The Jina's everpresent, exhortation is “Rise! Awake! Know thyself! See the Truth! Comprehend the Reality! Extricate yourself, O man, from the darkness of ignorance and delusion! You are the master of your own destiny!”
