The Jain 1998 07

Author(s): Amrit Godhia, Pradip Mehta, Pravin Mehta
Publisher: UK Jain Samaj Europe

Page 63

10th anniversary pratishtha mahotsawa
THE PATH OF.
By Dr Natubhai Shah
PARHEICA
TiON
The teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira are simple, purification of the soul (moksa), which can only be practical and ethical, and are aimed to liberation achieved through one's own efforts. The Tattvartha (moksa), which can be attained through annihilating Sutra, one of the most sacred texts of Jainism, karma attached to the soul. The practice of austerities emphatically states in its first aphorism that the three sheds the karma and the self-restraint of the body, jewels of Jainism, Right Faith (samyag darsana), Right speech and mind prevents the influx of fresh karma. Knowledge (samyag inaana), and Right Conduct Liberation of the soul is a state of perfection, of infinite (samyag caritra) together constitute the path to the state bliss in an eternal abode, where there is no ageing, no of liberation. These three are not to be considered as disease, no cycle of birth and death and no suffering. separate but collectively forming a single path. Bhagwan Mahavira's teaching of the five vows
In the view of this firm conviction, the Jain seers of 'non-violence', truthfulness, 'non-stealing', sexual over emphasise that these three must be pursued restraint (and restraint of the activities of the sensory simultaneously. By way of illustration, one could use a organs), non-attachment, and his theories of relative medical analogy: In order to bring about the cure of a pluralism', guide ethical thinkers today. His descriptions disease, three things are essential, faith in the efficacy of the range of mental states and 'psychic colours are of the medicine, knowledge of its use, and its ingestion supported today by some psychic researchers and by the patient. Likewise, to achieve liberation, faith in theosophists, and what we would today term science the efficacy of the path, knowledge of it and the and psychology were as important to him as spiritual practising of it-these three together are indispensable. knowledge. Elements of his teachings are now seen to Similarly, the path to liberation is compared in Jain have been centuries ahead of their time, as having a works to a ladder: The two sides of the ladder represent recognisable 'scientific' basis, and are relevant even to right faith and right knowledge, and the rungs of the present-day concerns. A number of his teachings, for ladder represent the (fourteen) stages of right conduct. example, argue that spoken words can be heard It is obvious that it is possible to ascend the ladder only throughout the universe (modern radio broadcasts); that when all the three elements, the two sides and the microscopic germs are engendered in excreta, sputum, rungs, are intact. As the absence of sides or rungs would and urine; and that plants have life, are now widely make a ladder ineffective, so the absence of one accepted by science. His explanation of jiva (soul or element makes the spiritual ascent impossible. living) and ajiva (non-living), and the six 'real entities' displays his deep insight into the nature of the universe. Right Faith
The jiva and the five forms of ajiva make the The term Right Faith (or the right attitude, right vision six 'real entities. They could be with form and without or right belief), samyag darsana, has been defined in form and are classified as
the Tattvartha Sutra as the true and firm conviction in
the existence of the 'real entities of the universe. Right with form matter (pudgala)
Faith. The Uttaraadhyayan (28: 14,15) defines Right without form soul (aatmaa)
Faith as the belief in nine 'real entities' (nava tattvas). medium of motion (dharma)
The Niyamsaara (1931: 5) explains the Right Faith as medium of rest (adharma)
the belief in the liberated souls, Jain scriptures and the space (aakaasa)
"real entities'. Samantabhadra defines samyag darsana time (kaala)
as the belief in true deities, true scriptures and true His teaching consists of the threefold path of Right teachers (Ratnakaranda sraavakaacaara 1955: 4) and Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, which mentions eight essential characteristics of Right Faith together lead to liberation, the status he himself and the necessity of renunciation from eight types of achieved.
pride.
The Jain scriptures emphasise that Right Faith The Threefold Path
should be characterised by eight essential requisites or The ultimate object of human life is liberation, the components. These are:
Luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it.
WS
- Zig Ziglar