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Understanding Jain Religion -“What Is Religion ? And What Is Not?”

 

Definitions :

1. The very conduct is Dharm; What is that conduct? That which is equanimity (saamya); What is saamya? It is the pariNaam (nature) of Atma? And what is pariNaam? To be free from moh (delusion or infatuation) and Kshobh (worries and fears). In other words, dharma is the conduct of equipoise unaffected by negative attitudes of raag (likes), dvesh (dislikes) in thoughts, speech and actions. Or to put it more exactly, it is the state of Self beyond the manifestations of mind and body and machinations of delusion, fear and worries (Pravachanasara, Sutra 7).
2. Samta (Equanimity), Maadyasthata (equipoise), shuddha bhaav (purity), Veetaragta (free from likes and dislikes) charitr (conduct or behaviour), dharm and Araadhana of Svabhaav (Self-appraisal) are synonyms (Nayachakra Brahat, Gaatha 356)
3. That which can carry living beings from the whirlpool of pains to the world of bliss is Dharm (Ratnakaranda Sraavakachara, Sloka 2)
4. That which can reach us to the destination of our coveted choice is Dharm (Sarvaartha Siddhi 9/2; Rajavartik 9/2/3)

Scope :

1. Compassion, non-violence, truth, patience and discipline are its voices.
2. Samyak darshan (Right faith), samyak gyan (right knowledge) and samyak charitr (right conduct) together constitute the path of salvation and this path is Dharm (Ratnakaranda Sraavakachara, Sloka 3)
3. Vyavahaar Dharm (Conventional religion): The devotion and service to Pancha Parameshthi is said to be so (Pravachanasara- Taatparyavrutti commentary 8/9/18)
4. Atma itself is Dharm because the nature of a substance is said to be Dharm; The expression and emission of pure consciousness is the nature of Self (Atma) (Pravachanasara- Tatvapradeepika commentary 7-8) which is free from the darkness of Raag, dvesh, Moh etc and which is the Self-experience (Anubhuti)

Types :

1. It is of two types a) total (Muni dharm) and partial (that of householders).
2. It is of three types a) Sruta dharm (Agamic practices also known as Tirth), b) Astikay dharm and c) Charitra dharm (Mulaachar, 557)
3. It is of ten types (Dasa dharm): Uttam kshama, mardav, aarjav, satya, shaucha, samyam, tap, tyag, aakinchinya and brahmacharya

Essentiality : Samyak Darshan is the essential condition for Dharm. In the absence of the former, all acts are soul-less i.e dead. Philanthropy (daan), worship (Puja), vows of celibacy (Brahmacharya), fasts (upvaas), penance (tap) and such acts of ascetics and householders would lead to salvation if enriched with the righteousness (samyaktva) but would enforce samsaric motions without (RayaNasara, 10). Without Vitarag samyaktva, the acts of (saraag samyak drushti) daan, Puja and vrat (Vows) are causes of bondage of Punya (records of good deeds) and the latter is not the cause of Moksha. The sarag samyaktva (i.e. enlightened act of devotion to Panchaparameshthi) can lead to Moksha by sequence of actions (parapara) (Jinendra Siddhanta Kosa, Vol 2 page 467b).

What is not Dharm? : All such acts carried out in the name of religion but devoid of right faith and knowledge and under the influence of passions (anger, pride, conceit and greed), reciprocations (with the intent of achieving some favours in life) do not belong to Dharm. In fact such acts are contrary to Dharm. Acts of people without proper awareness are in fact sins since they are not qualified by the virtue of righteousness (samyaktva) (ibid. p. 468).

As long as a person does not recognize the supreme pure consciousness of his soul, all his valiant acts of penance, Puja, philanthropy and self-restraint are waste and useless (Yogasara, 31). The acts of people devoid of samyak darshan, in terms of knowledge, peace, penance and behaviour are equivalent to carrying heavy stones but the same become ornaments of rare gems if tempered with samyaktva (Atmaanushasan sloka 15; Jinendra Siddhanta Kosa Vol. I, p. 468).

"Perfection is Kevali; faults are mine; so forgive me".

 

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Article Courtesy : Mr. C. Devakumar

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