path to salvation
From the basic principles of Jaina philosophy, it is evident that the inherent powers of the soul are crippled by its association with karmic matter and that is why every person is found in an imperfect state. The Jaina philosophy, therefore, asserts that real and everlasting happiness will be obtained by a person only when the karmas are completely removed from the soul. Jainism firmly believes that even though man is imperfect at present, it is quite possible for him to rid himself of the karmas associated with his soul by his own personal efforts without any help from an outside agency. Moreover, according to Jaina philosophy, the highest happiness consists in securing final emancipation from the cycle of births and deaths and in attaining the state of liberated soul, that is, obtaining Moksha or salvation.
Salvation is achieved through three basic ingredients: right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct (also called the three jewels or the three fold path of liberation)
The path to salvation, is compared in Jaina works to a ladder with its two side poles and the central rungs forming the steps. The side poles of the ladder are right belief and right knowledge and the rungs or steps of the ladder are the gradual stages of right conduct. It is obvious that it is possible to ascend the ladder only when all the three i.e., the side poles and the rungs, are sound, that absence of one makes liberation impossible.
Right Belief
Consists in believing that
1) The Jaina Arhats including the Tirthankaras are the true Gods
2) The aina sastras are the true scripture
3) The Jaina Gurus are the true Preceptors
Those who have achieved right belief should be free from superstitious beliefs and should be free from pride and arrogance.
Right Knowledge
Right knowledge has been described in Jaina scriptures as “knowledge which reveals the nature of things neither insufficiently, nor with exaggeration, nor falsely, but exactly as it is and with certainty.” It has also been stated that right knowledge consists in having full comprehension of the real nature of soul and non-soul
Right Conduct
Right Conduct includes the rules of discipline which (i) restrain all censurable movements of mind, speech and body, (ii) weaken and , destroy all passionate activity and (iii) lead to non-attachment and purity.
Salvation is achieved through three basic ingredients: right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct (also called the three jewels or the three fold path of liberation)
The path to salvation, is compared in Jaina works to a ladder with its two side poles and the central rungs forming the steps. The side poles of the ladder are right belief and right knowledge and the rungs or steps of the ladder are the gradual stages of right conduct. It is obvious that it is possible to ascend the ladder only when all the three i.e., the side poles and the rungs, are sound, that absence of one makes liberation impossible.
Right Belief
Consists in believing that
1) The Jaina Arhats including the Tirthankaras are the true Gods
2) The aina sastras are the true scripture
3) The Jaina Gurus are the true Preceptors
Those who have achieved right belief should be free from superstitious beliefs and should be free from pride and arrogance.
Right Knowledge
Right knowledge has been described in Jaina scriptures as “knowledge which reveals the nature of things neither insufficiently, nor with exaggeration, nor falsely, but exactly as it is and with certainty.” It has also been stated that right knowledge consists in having full comprehension of the real nature of soul and non-soul
Right Conduct
Right Conduct includes the rules of discipline which (i) restrain all censurable movements of mind, speech and body, (ii) weaken and , destroy all passionate activity and (iii) lead to non-attachment and purity.