Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion

SR No.: 001747
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramjee Singh
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 282
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics, & Yoga
File Size: 15 MB

Page 221

212 Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion ness' or 'tattva'. Tattvārtha Sraddha nam is Samyak-darsanam. This is the first of the trio of the Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, together which constitute the path to liberation. Faith is the precursor to knowledge. The Gitā also says that he who has faith attains wisdom or knowledge. 1 Faith is not blind belief, but it is the psychological condition of knowledge. Not only knowledge, faith is necessary even for attaining the highest degree of Yoga2, and the worlds of righteousness.3 Even sacrifice becomes void which is empty of faith.4 Man is of the nature of his faith, what his faith is, that verily, he is.5 Right belief is the basis on which Right knowledge depends, hence we find the serial order in the sūtra which mentions first the right belief and only second Right knowledge. Right belief or Samyag-darśana is either with attachment ( Sarāga ) or without attachment ( Vítarāga). The first is characterised by calmness (Praśam ), fear of mundane existence (Samvega ), Compassion for all living beings (Anukampa) and belief in the existence of things according to tattvärtha. The second type of samyak-darśana consists in the belief in the purity of soul without attachment which can be attained either by intuition (Nisarga ) or by tuition ( Adhigama ) - either by percepts or scriptures. Matter, place, time and five attainments are the external aids and subsidence of Karma (Upaśama ), Destructor of subsidence ( Kşayopaśama ) of Karmas are the internal aids to samyakdarśana.
However, there is one lacuna in the concept of Right belief as to what is "thatness'. Every system of philosophy has its own object of knowledge. Then, right belief will differ from System to system. But it does not matter. The supreme lord
1. Śrīmadbhagavadgita, IV. 39. 2. Ibid, IV. 47. 3. Ibid, XVIII. 71. 4. Ibid, XVII. 13. 5. Ibid, XVII. 3.