________________
17. PRECEPTS ON THREE JEWELS
(a) The three jewels understood from the stand-point of vyavahāra-naya (practical view-point).
(208) To have faith in the existence of (substances like) dharma etc.is right faith, to have acquaintance with the texts called Anga and Purva is right knowledge, to perserve in the performance of penance is right conduct. These three constitute the pathway-to-emancipation understood from the standpoint
vyavahara-naya.
(209) One understands by his (right) knowledge the nature of substances, develops belief in them by his (right) faith and controls himself by his(right) conduct and purifies his soul by penance (1.e.,austerities).
(210) Knowledge without right conduct, acceptance of the asceticism without right faith and observance of austerities without self-control are all futile.
(211) Without right faith, there cannot be right knowledge; without right knowledge, there cannot be right conduct; without right conduct, there cannot be release from Karmas; without release of Karmas there cannot be nirvāņa (salvation).
(212) Right knowledge is of no use in the absence of right conduct, action is of no use in the absence of right knowledge. Certainly, in the case of conflagration the lame man burns down even if capable of seeing while the blind man burns down even if capable of running away.
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
