Samyak Darshan First StepTowards Dharma - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Samyak Darshan: The First Step Towards Dharma" by Jayantilal Jain, based on the provided text:

The book "Samyak Darshan: The First Step Towards Dharma" by Dr. Jayantilal Jain emphasizes that Samyak Darshan (Right Faith or Right Belief) is the foundational and crucial first step on the path to Dharma and ultimately, Moksha (liberation). The author highlights that while the term "Samyak Darshan" is commonly used by Jains, it is often misunderstood. Many mistakenly equate it with simply being a Jain, following basic conduct, or adhering to a specific guru, sect, or scripture. This leads to diverse and sometimes conflicting interpretations.

Core Concepts:

The Goal: Liberation (Moksha): The ultimate aim for every soul, burdened by misery, is liberation. This is achieved by becoming like God, completely happy.
The Path: Ratnatraya (The Three Jewels): The path to liberation consists of three essential components:
1. Samyak Darshan (Right Faith/Belief): The correct perspective or vision of reality.
2. Samyak Gyana (Right Knowledge): Accurate and complete understanding.
3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct): Virtuous and ethical actions. These three are interconnected and essential for spiritual progress.
Samyak Darshan as the Root: Samyak Darshan is described as the root of Jainism, bringing a "true world vision." It enables a balanced judgment, leading to self-realization, where the mind finds rest in the soul, experiencing spiritual bliss. The text defines it as tattvarthasraddhanam Samyak-darsanam, meaning the determination to understand the essence of reality.
The Seven Fundamentals of Right View: The framework of right view in Jainism is built upon understanding these core principles:
- Jiva and Ajiva: All living beings are Jivas, possessing a soul (Chetan, Atma). The soul is distinct from the body, indestructible, and shapeless. Ajivas are non-living substances without consciousness.
- The Six Substances: Jiva (soul), Pudgal (matter), Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Akash (space), and Kala (time).
- Karma Process: Influx (Ashrav) caused by wrong belief, bondage (Bandh) through attachment/aversion, cessation of influx (Samvar) through focus on the soul's nature, and shedding of karmas (Nirjara) leading to liberation.
Right Perspective: This involves recognizing the soul as distinct from other substances, understanding the intermingled yet separate nature of soul and karmic matter, and acknowledging the unique potential and characteristics of each soul. It also includes having right faith in true God (Arihant), Scripture (teachings of Arihant), and Saint (one who follows the path).
Holistic View of Dharma: The book explores various interpretations of what constitutes Dharma, all pointing towards Samyak Darshan as the foundation:
- Ahimsa Param Dharma: Compassion for all beings.
- Nature of Substance: Belief in the independent nature and properties of each substance.
- Dev, Guru, Shastra: Right faith in the omniscient, their teachings, and those who follow them.
- Ratnatraya: The interconnectedness of Right Faith, Knowledge, and Conduct.
- Auspicious Activities: Penance, meditation, donations, etc., are important but are expressions of right conduct stemming from right belief.
- Experience of the Soul: Experiencing the blissful and eternal nature of the soul.
- Stages of Purification: Being in the fourth stage of spiritual purification and above.
- Daslakshan Dharma: The ten virtues, preceded by 'uttam' (supreme), signifying right faith.
- Nine Tattvas: Right understanding and faith in the nine fundamental realities.
- Understanding the Universe: Comprehending the six substances, karma, and the structure of the universe.
The Subject Matter of Right Faith (Pure Soul): From a pure perspective, Samyak Darshan involves viewing the soul as:
- Independent of substances and tattvas.
- Indivisible and inherent in nature.
- Beyond karmic substance, disposition, and body-related karma.
- Free from karmic impurities and modifications.
- Free from fluctuating mental states.
- Beyond the duration, types, and intensity of karmic bondage.
- Free from the cycles of birth, death, sorrow, and worldly characteristics (like gender, body types).
- Fearless, bodiless, independent, faultless, free from possessions, desires, and attachments.
- Without physical attributes like color, taste, smell, or touch.
- Unapprehendable by symbols and soundless, possessing consciousness.
Conviction: Right belief implies unwavering conviction in the true nature of reality, free from doubt, perversity, or vacillation. It is about understanding the soul's eternal nature, free from impurities. External causes include knowledge of Jain scriptures and those who know them, while the internal cause is the destruction of deluding karmas.

Steps Towards Samyak Darshan:

While spontaneous, Samyak Darshan is fostered by certain characteristics and efforts:

Scriptural Study: Understanding the six substances and nine tattvas.
Self-Examination: Questioning and examining one's own beliefs.
Application and Experience: Applying principles in daily life to validate teachings.
Unshakable Belief: Maintaining firm conviction in reality, free from doubt.
Renouncing Sensory Pleasures: Not making sensory enjoyment the sole objective.
Respecting Virtues: Avoiding dislike for outward appearances and focusing on inner virtues.
Avoiding Praising Wrong Beliefs: Appreciating people for human qualities but not for erroneous views.
Correcting Erroneous Knowledge: Overcoming errors in knowledge through Arihant's teachings.
Avoiding Pride and Wrong Faith: Eliminating pride based on various factors and avoiding faith in wrong Dev, Shastra, and Guru.
Developing Spiritual Qualities: Enhancing personal spiritual qualities, supporting others, fostering fraternity, and promoting right faith.

The book concludes by likening the need for Samyak Darshan to a sick person needing medicine. Just as faith in a doctor and medicine is crucial for physical healing, faith in the "medicine" of Right Faith, prescribed by the Arihant, is essential to cure the "sickness" of mundane existence and lead to Moksha.