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1.1.2 The Meaning and Definition of Samyaktva
The term 'samyak darshana', written as 'samyag darshana' or as 'samyaktva', ('samkit' in Gujarati) is extremely important in the philosophical and spiritual realm.
Let us first understand the term 'darshana' {perception/insight/faith/belief/philosophy). Once this term is understood well, the term 'samyak darshana' can be understood clearly.
As per the dhaatu paatha of the 'Vaiyaakarana Siddhaanta Kaumudi', the term 'darshana' traces its etymological roots to the term 'dasha prakshane’. Hence, the term 'darshana' may be understood as: “That which facilitates perception, that through which perception takes place and that in which perception is done.' - Samyagdharshana; (Page 182, Author: Ashokmuni, Publisher: Diwaakarjyoti Karyaalaya, Byaawar (Rajasthan), year 1981)
This is a seminal understanding of the term "darshana' and leads to many meanings - darshana {perception/vision}, darpana (mirror, dharma (faith/religion/philosophy), upalabdhi {understanding obtainment/attainment/accomplishment}, buddhi {wisdom/intelligence/discernment/judgement, shaastra {scripture/text}, svapna {dream, lochana {eyes), varna {colour/appearance), desha {place/country/nation/state and many more.
“Darshanam darpane dharmopalabdhyo buddhishaastrayoh.
Svapnachanayoshchaapi darshanam varmadashayoh.” - Samyagdharshana; (Page 182, Author: Ashokmuni, Publisher: Diwaakarjyoti Karyaalaya, Byaawar (Rajasthan), year 1981)
Seeing with the eyes is also 'darshana'. But this seeing is very ordinary and takes places in the normal course for worldly beings. Hence, it cannot be considered as being the key to the path of liberation. For the average person, darshana' means seeing with the help of one's eyes. But Jain seers provide a second meaning for the term. They say that 'darshana' also means seeing when the eyes are closed. That kind of perception involves seeing, contemplation, meditation, reflection, intuition and deduction. It is a whole process by itself, almost a separate category of darshana' itself. This is how Jain seers explain the term 'darshana'.
When we see with the eyes, we cannot even see the gross object in its entirety. For instance, when seen from a distance, a tar road looks like a thick black line. If you were to put one grain of rice in thousands of tons of wheat, will you be able to see it, even if you were to observe it from up close? Answer is no, Hence, it would be incorrect to call that kind of seeing as 'spiritual perception'. For this kind of seeing, learned saints and ascetics of the past have used the term gross vision. The term
darshana' means observing minutely. Merely seeing with the eyes is also perception but of a gross order. It does not imply any depth in understanding.
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