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History & Doctrinal aspects of Jainism : 51
Liberation / Nirvāṇa/Mokşa All these terms used interchangeably imply freeing the empirical soul from all types of kārmik bondages. The path to liberation is called mokṣa mārga which is right faith / belief, right knowledge and the right conduct practiced together’.14 Right belief is defined as belief in the true nature of pure self (i.e. the existence and attributes (infinite knowledge, bliss and energy) of self /soul and its capability to attain that state. From practical viewpoint, right belief is called firm belief in the true deity i.e. Jina who is without any attachment and aversion and has won all sorts of physical and mental flaws); true canons (sermons of Jina) and true teacher i.e. who practices right conduct and is fully knowledgeable of the Jain canons.
Right knowledge implies the true and detailed cognition of the real nature of the object of knowledge as it is. This knowledge is free of doubt, perversity and indecisiveness. Knowledge can be acquired using pramāņa (organs of valid knowledge) and naya (doctrine of viewpoints). Ordinary people like us need to use the doctrine of viewpoints (naya) to acquire right knowledge about any entity. Doctrine of multiplicity of viewpoints or pluralism, called Anekāntavāda, is a unique contribution of Jains in the field of epistemology. Right conduct implies 'Giving up all activities which lead the practitioner to continue its journey in trans-migratory cycle'. This practice is based on the premise “Jainism posits that each individual (Jiva) holds an eternal soul that has always existed and will continue to exist. Our current highly prized status as human beings is transient and hence must be treasured and respected. On this basis, we can find a psychology within Jainism that emphasizes the importance of every single act, every encounter within the human as well as the non-human realms'. Practicing Right Conduct The doctrine of conduct is based on the principle of Non-violence
