Part 2.1 - Right perception (samyak darsana)

[Full title: Fundamental Principles of Jainism (1): Right perception (samyak darsana)]

Jainism insists on real faith, the real darsana which only can give us the real happiness. It is the right way of perceiving and understanding any object or situation. One needs to remove the false perception about everything (mithya darsana) to attain samyak darsana. Mithya is wrong perception (avidya). Ratnakanda Sravakacara (sutra- 34) tells that nothing in this triloka (entire universe) and trikala (all time and eras) is better than samyak darsana for a jiva and nothing is worse than mithyatva.

Belief in substances ascertained as they are is right faith^[1]. Upon what right faith is to be developed? How? The scriptures including Tattvarthasutra tells us how one can practice Samyak darsana on 28 tattvas (elements) with full awareness, consistent efforts (adhigama) and with the support of pramana, naya, nirdesadika and satsamkhyadika.

Right Faith (samyak darsana or samyak sradhha) is of three types^[2] as under:

a. Aupasamika: Aupasamika means suppression. It happens due to the suppression of passions (non-living particles of kasayas). Here, all these ajiva particles of mithyatva karma are settled down or become inactive.

b. Ksayopsamika: Ksayopsamika means the mixer of suppression and destruction. This state is due to the partial suppression and partial destruction of passions.

c. Ksayika: Ksayika means destruction. This samyakatva or right faith is due to the destruction of all passions.

Right perception can be attained either by intuition, automatic instinct or without support of the scriptures, by acquiring knowledge^[3], education, listening, nisarga or purvasamskara or by others” advices (bahya nimitta) or sermons and support (adhigamaja) through pramana or naya. Samyaktva (right perception) is considered as pre-requisite for observance of restraints.

Doubtfulness (sanka), expectations (akanksa), wavering mind (vicikitsa), praising the wrong viewpoint and adoration (anyadrsti prasamsa) thereof are five transgressions of right perception^[4].

Having firm faith in existence of the eternal soul and its knowing property is the basis of right perception. One has to repeatedly contemplate and meditate over the true nature of the soul. This can take him to directly experience the soul. There will not be any scope for any doubt. Such doubtfulness or shamka is the first transgression. With the faith in the right perception, one tends to behave in the right direction. Then he needs to get involved in some wholesome activities, which might earn to him wholesome karma. With this, one earns favourable situations in life. But, sometimes the aspirant starts expecting such consequences as a result of right perception, which is akanksa, the second transgression. Inspite of faith in existence of soul, his mind starts wavering due to exposure to strong viewpoint to a different concept with a strong logic and motivation. This wavering is termed as vichikitsa, the third transgression.

At different times, such viewpoints are so strongly presented that the aspirant may be impressed and be overcome thereby. He may be led to praise that viewpoint. This admiring wrong viewpoint and conduct and praising it (anyadrsti prasamsa) constitutes fourth and fifth transgressions of samyakatva (right perception). Hence, the right believer should become aware of these obstructions and avoid them during his spiritual journey.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

tattvārthaśraddhānaṃ samyagdarśanam | T.S. 1.2, Acharya Umaswati, Tattvarthasutra, JAINA and Shrut Ratnakar, Ahmedabad, July, 2007

[2]:

Umaswati, Mokshashastra, Kanji Swami Smarak Trust, Devlali, V.S. 2047, pp.10, 11

[3]:

tannisargādadhigamādvā | T.S. 1.3

[4]:

śaṃkākāṅkṣāvicikatsānyadṛṣṭi praśaṃsā saṃstavāḥ samyagdṛṣṭeratīcārāḥ | T.S. 7.23