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Right Faith
The term Right Faith (or the right attitude, right vision or right belief), samyag darsana, has been defined in the Tattvartha Sutra as the true and firm conviction in the existence of the 'real entities' of the universe. Right Faith. The Uttaraadhyayan (28: 14,15) defines Right Faith as the belief in nine 'real entities' (nava tattvas). The Niyamsaara (1931: 5) explains the Right Faith as the belief in the liberated souls, Jain scriptures and the "real entities'. Samantabhadra defines samyag darsana as the belief in true deities, true scriptures and true teachers (Ratnakaranda sraavakaacaara 1955: 4) and mentions eight essential characteristics of Right Faith and the necessity of renunciation from eight types of pride.
The Jain scriptures emphasise that Right Faith should be characterised by eight essential requisites or components. These are:
• One should be free of doubt about the truth or validity of the Jain tenets.
• One should be detached from worldly, materialistic things.
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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.
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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 coreligionists, and show due reverence towards the pious.
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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.
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