The Jain 1998 07

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

Page 65

10th anniversary pratishtha mahotsava
HAH
One should be free of doubt about the truth or validity of the Jain tenets. One should be detached from worldly, materialistic things. One should have an appropriate regard for the body, as the body is the means by which one achieves liberation, but one should feel no 'attachment' to it. One should take care not to follow a faith or path which will not lead to liberation; one should avoid harbouring credulous or superstitious beliefs. One should foster spiritual excellence, and protect the prestige of the faith from belittlement, by praising the pious and not deriding others. One should be steadfast in one's convictions and help others towards the path of Right Faith and Right Conduct, whenever they falter. One should have affectionate regard and respect for the virtuous and one's co-religionists, and show due reverence towards the pious. In one's own conduct one should demonstrate Jain values and teachings: one should attempt to demonstrate the Jain concept of true religion both through religious observances and in the performance of charitable deeds, such as the provision of food, medicine, education and shelter
to all those in need. The first five are for the self and the last three are the duties of the community. A true aspirant should always be ready to help others. Right Faith should be free from erroneous beliefs such as:
Pseudo-holiness: Some people falsely believe that practices such as bathing in certain rivers or fire walking are a means of acquiring merit for themselves or for their family. Pseudo-gods: Some people have faith in gods and goddesses who are credited with divine and destructive powers, but praying to such deities in order to gain worldly favours is false faith, leading to karmic bondage. Pseudo-ascetics: Some self-styled ascetics consider their teaching to be the only truth, but such ascetics should be recognised for what they are and should not be sustained in the hope of gaining favours through their magical or mysterious powers.
Jainism teaches that the mind must be freed from
eight forms of pride: learning; worship; family; status by birth (or contacts and family connections); power (including physical strength); wealth or achievements; penance or religious austerities; bodily beauty or personality.
Any form of pride disturbs the equilibrium of the mind, creating likes and dislikes, and in such case discretion, judgement and the 'vision may be clouded and can lead to error.
The Jain texts describe at length the importance of Right Faith and they enumerate the benefits that can be accrued by a person possessing it, and note that asceticism without Right Faith is inferior to faith without asceticism; even a humble believer with Right Faith can attain spiritual progress.
The Uttaraadhyayan (28: 16-27) classifies aspirants of the Right Faith into ten categories according to the methods of attainment: 1. Intuition: those who have inborn inclination towards
righteousness. 2. Tuition: those who learn by instructions from
others. 3. Command: those who obey the command of the
enlightened people. 4. Sutra: those who obtain righteousness by learning
the sutras. 5. Seed: those who have an inner attitude that grows
like a seed. 6. Study: those who study the sacred texts.
Comprehension: those who learn truth by logic and
comparison. 8. Conduct: those who observe Right Conduct and
the rituals as prescribed. 9. Exposition: some aspirants understand truth though
a brief exposition. 10 Dharma: those who believe in the Jina and follow
his teachings.
The Aacaaranga Sutra (1.3: 2.1) argues, "He who has Right Faith commits no sin'. The texts imply that a person with Right Faith should possess the moral qualities such as fearlessness, detachment, freedom from negativism or scepticism, alertness, selflessness, sincerity of purpose, single minded devotion, calmness, kindness and the desire for self-realisation. Such individuals should have friendship towards all, appreciation of the virtuous, compassion for the
7.
To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.
- Samuel Johnson
Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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