Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Traverses on less trodden path...
the path of salvation is incomplete. They are inseparably bound up and perfection of one goes with the perfection of the other two.4 Right faith means unflincoing faith in the nine fundamental principles of Jainism. 8 Right knowledge is correct knowledge of the tattvas as taught by Jinas. Right conduct is making one's life conforın to the truths learnt. Right faith is the first step on the path of spiritual development. It leads a person on the right path. But this alone is not enough for complete spiritual advance. ment. It must lead to right knowledge of reality. Right knowledge of the nature of reality is a necessary condition to spiritual development. These two
Right faith and Right knowledge-alone would not be sufficient to lead us to the highest spiritual goal. Acquisition of Right knowledge must lead to Right action. Without Right conduct, knowledge is futile. Thus Right conduct in the light of Right faith and Right knowledge is a necessary condi. tion for attaining the highest goal. In other words, Right faith is responsible for placing a person on the right path, Right knowledge illumines the path and Right conduct leads to the goal. Thus Umāsvāti emphatically maintains that all these three aspects must be present in a person, if one is to reach his spiritual goal.' Without Right conduct, Right faith and knowledge have no meaning. It is Right conduct which ultimately leads a person to the highest aim of life. Thus Jaina thinkers prescribed the exhaustive list of code of conduct. These principles of code of conduct are prescribed to engender the spirit of renunciation in the soul, they weaken and destroy the bonds of its karmas and enable it to attain its original perfect state of Infinite Power, Knowledge and Bliss.
So far as Right conduct is concerned, it comprises two sets of rules one consisting of injunctions applicable to monks and other in directions to house-holders Really speaking, Jainism gives prominent place to the
3. Sam yaktva-jñāna-caritrasampadah sādhanāni mokşamārgasya. Tasvekataräbhāvepi
mok samārgopyasiddhikaraḥ. P.R.P.-230. 4. P.R.P-231 5. Ibid-222. 6. Ibid-227. 7. To elucidate this idea Siddhasenagaui gives following beautiful analogy of curing
ulness of the patient. First of all, patient who is suffering from discase must have unflinching faith in the medicine, prescribed by the physician. Seeondly, he must have clear knowledge of the medicine of that particular disease and thirdly, he must acrually take the medicine and follow the restrictions in the manner of taking food etc,, as directed by the physician. Faith in the medicine, knowledge of the medicine and taking the medicine, all these three are necessary to eradicate the disease. Similar is the case of acquisition of spiritual health, which would be secured only by the combination of the three Jewels."-T.S. Bhaş yaţika-I-I P-28.