जैन धर्म क्या है?
What if the cause of every sorrow were inside you, and so was the way out?
In short: Jainism is the path by which a soul becomes free and pure. The soul is separate from the body, and attachment and aversion are the root of all suffering. Anyone can walk this path.
रत्नत्रय | The whole path in one line
Acharya Umaswami opens the Tattvarth Sutra with the entire path to liberation in a single sutra:
सम्यग्दर्शनज्ञानचारित्राणि मोक्षमार्गः ॥१॥
Tattvarth Sutra, chapter 1, sutra 1
सम्यग्दर्शन (Right belief): A firm faith in the true nature of the soul and the seven tattvas. It comes first.- सम्यग्ज्ञान (Right knowledge): Knowing things as they truly are.
- सम्यक्चारित्र (Right conduct): Living by that belief and knowledge.
Together, not one by one
All three together are the path. These are the three jewels, ratnatraya.
जिन और तीर्थंकर | Who is a Jina? Who is a Tirthankar?
- Jina: One who has conquered the inner enemies: anger, pride, deceit and greed, and attachment and aversion. Jain dharma is the teaching of the Jinas.
- Tirthankar: The highest Jina, who shows the path (the tirth) to the whole world.
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Tirthankars in this age, from Bhagwan Rishabhdev (Adinath) to Bhagwan Mahavir.
पंच व्रत | Five vows for a peaceful life
हिंसाऽनृतस्तेयाब्रह्मपरिग्रहेभ्यो विरतिर्व्रतम् ॥१॥
Tattvarth Sutra, chapter 7, sutra 1
Turning away from violence, untruth, stealing, unchastity and possessiveness is called vrat.
- अहिंसा (Ahimsa): Nonviolence
- सत्य (Satya): Truth
- अचौर्य (Achaurya): Not stealing
- ब्रह्मचर्य (Brahmacharya): Chastity
- अपरिग्रह (Aparigraha): Non attachment
Monks keep these five vows fully. Householders keep them in part.
Source: Tattvarth Sutra, Acharya Umaswami
छोटा सा क्विज़ | Test yourself
Tap a question to see the answer.
1. Which three together make the path to liberation?
Right belief, right knowledge and right conduct (Tattvarth Sutra 1.1).
2. How many Tirthankars were there in this age? Who was the first?
- The first was Bhagwan Rishabhdev (Adinath), the last Bhagwan Mahavir.
3. What does aparigraha mean?
Non attachment: turning away from possessiveness.
आगे पढ़ें | Keep going on JinSwara
- Tattvarth Sutra, all sutras
- Tirthankar Vardhaman Mahavir and his teachings
- Bhagwan Mahavir quiz, 66 questions