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86 : Śramana, Vol 59, No. 3/July-September 2008
deal with any particular conduct but with conduct in general. To gain right attitude, right vision, right faith is the gain of right conduct. As per Jainism "to gain happiness in life first of all one must gain samyaktva". All the conduct should be such as would bring us the maximum of happiness and remove miseries from our lives. Samyaktva can be obtained by gaining faith in nine fundamental elements of Jainism viz. Jīva (soul), Ajīva (matter), Punya (merit or virtue), Papa (sin or vice), Asrava (influx), Samvara (stoppage), Nirjarā (shedding of karmic matter), Bandha (bondage) and Mokṣa (emancipation or salvation). Out of nine fundamental elements of Jaina philosophy, only two, the 'self' and the 'non-self' are dealt with from a metaphysical point of view; the other seven are mere corollaries of the problem of getting rid of miseries. Sarvadarśana Samgraha very beautifully summaries the position when it says, "Asrava (inflow of karmic matter causing misery) is the cause of mundane existence and samvara (stoppage of that inflow) is the cause of liberation: this is the Jaina view (in short), everything else is only its amplifications.* Jainism gives lesson to perform noble activities every moment. The person who believes in moral values must rise above good and bad actions. One should try to search truth himself or herself. Truth and valuation are inseparable. Metaphysics and ethics are the two sides of the same coin. To get rid of miseries and to achieve happiness in life one should lead balanced life. Jainism puts much emphasis on equality and equanimity. Prominent Jainācārya Kundakunda says that vice and virtue are shackles of iron and gold respectively, both of which bind us to the physical world." This Jainism qualifies ability to become new model of moral and spiritual progress for Global Civilization.
New model for individual and collective life
Jaina philosophy inspires to lead peaceful individual happy life and harmonious collective life. One should be so disciplined that does not put any trouble to anybody in his daily life. The life of discipline in Jainism is prescribed in two forms: one, more rigorous
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