Soul Science Part 01

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 53

Soul Science : Samayasära by Jain Ācārya Kundakunda
The relative point of view reveals the unreal and the real point of view describes the real. A soul who takes refuge in the real point of view verily becomes SamyagDrști (a being with right belief). (11)
Annotation
Here the Ācārya is explicitly stating that the description given by the relative point of view is unreal and that given by the real point of view is real. It may sound contradictory to a beginner. Therefore, a more detailed description of both points of view (real and relative) is needed to remove the misconception. With this objective, both points of view are being described in more detail in Appendix-5.
For the sake of a quick understanding we would simply say here that many a times we need unreal description also as it serves some purpose (see stanza 8). For example, when a plastic bottle filled with milk is called a 'milk-bottle' then this unreal description (milk-bottle) of the plastic-bottle instead of the real description (plastic-bottle) also serves some purpose
When we explain to a kid the difference between a living and non-living on the basis of the movement of the body and functioning of the senses, then the identification of life on the basis of the body also serves some purpose. The real point of view describes the life on the basis of the soul only which is invisible. Thus starting from a description of the life by the relative point of view, we eventually reach the stage of understanding the invisible soul describcd by the real point of view.
Becoming a Samyag Drsti (a being with right vision or right belief) is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of life. It is also called a first step towards liberation. Only after becoming SamyagDrsti one is considered to be on the path of liberation. Here Ācārya is emphasizing the importance of the real point of view by explaining that in order to become a SamyagDșşti one must take refuge in the real point of view. The logic behind this is given in the first line of this stanza (the relative point of view reveals the unreal and the real point of view describes the real).