Epitome Of Jainism: Right Character

Character is an outcome of the two predecessors - right perception and right knowledge. When character is congruous with the two, sadhaka will tread the path of conscience, which is always true and complete.

When the soul, once, attains this state, it gradually goes ahead and passes through five different stages. First if all, right perception makes a person firm in his own convictions and his will-power increases to a great extent. This in due course results in generating in him a sense of renunciation of all external elements.

Secondly, renunciation inundates his whole life and he desires to become independent of all the passions and vices. Thus he reaches the third stage which is all awakening. He remains awakened all the time. He realizes the constant flow of Bliss in Self and becomes engrossed in its effulgent nature.

The fourth stage is of passionlessness. There are 4 Passions - Anger, Pride, Deceit and Avarice. These four are the Instrumental causes of our death and birth, in fact the whole existence. When these four are rooted out completely along with the deluding Karma, the omnicognition emerges, and the soul shines in its nature.

The fifth stage is of non action. When the soul frees itself from all the internal and external hindrances, all the qualities lying latent become manifest and the soul becomes inactive (Akriya). This leads to ‘Nirvana’, the goal aspired by one and all.

Thus this trinity leads the soul to the sphere of eternity and makes it free.

Exclusive adherence to one of the three never leads to perfection. Some believe in Gnana-Yoga, some in Bhakti-yoga and some in Karma-yoga. But Jainism believes in the three and gives equal importance to all of them for the annihilation of Karmas.

The exclusive dedication to this trinity not only leads to freedom, but makes day-to-day life happy and peaceful.

Purity of vision is the first ingredient in peaceful existence. We cannot lead a life of seclusion. We live in society. As such, it becomes essential that one should know the view of others. If the angle of vision is understood correctly, there will be no clash. This will make our knowledge correct and thus our activity will be in the right direction. This will, in its turn, annihilate all the possibilities of misunderstandings, the root cause of conflicts’ and clashes.