________________
Appendix XIX
Forgive me Please*
Jainism basically centres on a three-fold discipline known as Tri-ratna, the three jewels of Jainism. In the Tattvārtha-sūtra, Pūjyapāda propounds that it is only by pursuing the three fold path of Right Faith (Samyagdarśana), Right knowledge (Samyagjñāna) and Right Conduct (Samyag-cāritra) that one can hope to earn Mokşa, the attainment of ultimate bliss. It is also stressed in this Sūtra that all these three Ratnas are interdependent and inseparable from the other (Samyagdarśanajñānacāritrāņi mokṣa mārgah - Tattvārtha-sūtra-1:1).
The modern and younger Jaina devotees subscribe to the view that Jainism, in no case stipulates blind faith in authority. There is scope for objective, introspective, personal thinking and correlated realisation
Take 'Samvatsarī’, the Day of Forgiveness, for example. This solemn festival falls on September 14, when every faithful Jaina is expected to seek forgiveness from others for improper conduct (by word, thought, manner, attitude and action) during the preceding months.
The rationale in human life is such that it is prone to commit imperfections all the time. No one can be free from such lapses.
A day in a year is therefore, set apart to atone, sincerely, for such lapses, seek forgiveness from all others (who knows, you may have offended him unknowingly in some context or other) and thus cleanse yourself of all these lapses and strive henceforth,
* The Indian Express, 11 September 1999
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
