Notes Week 6 - Path of Liberation 1

Week 6 Notes

Path of Purification

In the last class we spoke of Nav Tattva, the 9 Fundamentals or Realities.  This is the basis or the core of the philosophy of Jainism.  Everything else revolves round or comes out from this core.

When the goal has been determined, the next question arises regarding the way to achieve that goal.

Whenever we embark on a path, a journey, or decide to practice a philosophy, we make sure we have thought of everything, that we know where we are going and how we are getting there.

In order to undertake the journey we need to have sufficient TRUST or FAITH in what we are going to undertake, as well as the KNOWLEDGE how to undertake it and then DO the needful.

We have to have the RIGHT FAITH.  It is only the RIGHT FAITH, a firm belief that this way is the only correct way to get us to the destination.  We need the RIGHT KNOWLEDGE and we need to engage in the RIGHT CONDUCT to get to our destination.

In the same way, Jainism clearly states that the 3 Jewels (ratna-traya) which are:

SAMYAK DARSHAN (RIGHT FAITH/BELIEF) – firm trust and belief in what is the true reality, in accepting that Nav Tattva shows the path to liberation,

SAMYAK GNAN  – (RIGHT KNOWLEDGE), which only comes with believing what is the true reality,

SAMYAK CHARITRA – (RIGHT CONDUCT) to lead to liberation, only by having the right knowledge, are we capable of engaging in the right conduct,

together constitute the path to liberation.

The path to liberation is impossible without the unity or presence of all 3.

RIGHT BELIEF has characteristics

•    Believing Tirthankars as the true leaders, Nav Tattva is the true scripture, Gurus are the true teachers
•   Free from doubt about the truth or validity of Jain philosophy
• No liking for worldy enjoyment as nothing is permanent
•  Our bodies are impure but we need to look after them
• No inclination towards the wrong path, or inclined towards superstition
•   Praising the pious, not deriding those who falter in pursuit of religion
•   Desire to attain higher spiritual state
•  Freedom from pride – pride of knowledge, worship, family, power, wealth and achievements, penance, appearance of body
•   Equilibrium of mind

RIGHT KNOWLEDGE

Jainism lays down a rational approach to learning or acquiring knowledge –

• Correct use of words – reading, writing, pronouncing words correctly.  Reading must be done with care and faith
• Reading must be directed towards understanding the meaning, mechanical study serves no purpose.
• Questioning, repetition, contemplation, studying.
• This knowledge reveals the true nature of things, not insufficiently or falsely.  This knowledge is free from doubt, perversity and vagueness.

RIGHT CONDUCT

Only right belief and right knowledge translate into practical and spiritual discipline required for liberation.  The first stage of right conduct is for a layman to avoid 5 short comings:

• Doubt or Scepticism
• Desire of sensual pleasures
• Disgust of anything
• Admiring wrong believers
• Prasing wrong believers

In the powerpoint, slide 12 lists the above in a different way.

Householders are expected to observe 12 vows for Right Conduct in their daily lives in order to maintain constant progress in spiritual growth.

5 main vows – Ahimsa, Asteya, Satya, Aprigraha, Brahmacharya, undertaken in full by Ascetics

3 merit vows -

• Limit ones activities to specific directions
• Limit ones activities to certain distances or areas
• Avoid purposelessness activity

The next 4 set of vows encourages and helps a layperson in practice of religious duties:

•   Samayika – take a vow to devote a particular time every day to contemplate or meditate
•   Limitation in ones enjoyment of using consumables and non-consumables – eg eating 3 out of 10 varieties on the table
•   Doing charity
• Living the life of an ascetic for a limited duration – eg fasting in the manner they do

Jainism advocates a whole way of life – of virtues to cultivate, endeavours to be attempted, faults to be discarded, duties to be carried out.  This is called Marganusari.  A handout was given in the class, and lists in detail. 

Remember to take up vows not just to NOT to do things, but also take up positive things, TO DO things, eg doing charity and samayika are positive action vows.  Fasting are limitation type vows.

There are a lot of 4 of this, 5 of that, 10 of the other.  Familiarity only builds with constant reading, discussing with friends and practicing.  A lot of things get repeated.  It is not complicated or convoluted.