Home > Indian History > Indian Philosophy > Milestones towards moksha
Milestones towards moksha
A definitive threefold path must be pursued to achieve moksha from worldly bondage.

Share this Article:

Ratnatraya or the three Jewels of JainismA soul is bound by the karmas since time immemorial. The first step to achieve moksha is to instill Samyaktva or rational faith or perception.

Samyaktva
According to Jainism, Samyak Darsana (Rational Perception), Samyak Jnana (Rational Knowledge) and Samyak Caritra (Rational Conduct), together also known as Ratnatraya or the three Jewels of Jainism, compose true Dharma. According to Umasvati, Samyak Darsana and Jnana Caritra together constitutes mokshamarga, or the path to liberation.

Samyak Darsana or rational perception is the logical faith in the true nature of every substance of the universe.

Samyak Jnana or rational knowledge is the right knowledge of true and appropriate knowledge of the reality, the tattvas. It comprises the two principles of Anekantvada or non-absolutism and Syadvada or relativity of truth. Right knowledge must be free from three main faults: doubt, delusion, and indefiniteness.

Samyak Caritra or rational conduct is the natural conduct of a (soul) living being. It consists in following asceticisms, pursuing right activities and observance of vows, carefulness and controls. Once a soul secures samyaktva, moksha is guaranteed within a few lifetimes.

Kevala Jnana
Kevala Jñana, the highest form of transcendental knowledge that a samyakdristi soul can achieve, also means "absolute knowledge", "Enlightenment" and "Omniscience". Kevala is the state of isolation of the java from the ajava attained through austere practices which burn off one`s karmic residues, releasing one from bondage to the cycle of death and rebirth. Kevala Jñana, thus signifies infinite knowledge of self and non-self, accomplished by a soul after eradication of the all ghatiya karmas. A person who has attained Kevala Jñana is called a Kevali. He is also known as Jina (the victor) or Arhat (the worthy one) and worshipped as the Almighty by the Jains. The soul who has reached this stage attains moksha at the end of his life span, after eradication of the aghatiya karmas.

Nirvana Nirvana means final release from the karmic bondage. When an enlightened human, such as an Arhat or a Tirthankara crushes his remaining aghatiya karmas and ends his worldly existence, is termed nirvana. Theoretically, the death of an Arhat is called nirvana of Arhat, as he has ended his worldly existence and attained liberation. Moksha, to be precise, liberation follows nirvana. An Arhat becomes a siddha - the liberated one, after attaining nirvana.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Philosophy


Classical Indian Philosophy
Classical Indian Philosophy contains many analyses, rational principles and explanations. The Vedas have been considered as the first and the oldest scriptural texts of the Classical Indian Philosophy.
Ajivika Philosophy
Ajivika philosophy is different from the mainstream religion
Gunas - Hindu Philosophy
Guna in Hindu Philosophy in its philosophical sense refers to the constituent quality. The whole universe is guided by the three gunas, which are basically attitudes, qualities found in human being.
Bodhisattvas - Hindu Philosophy
Bodhisattva is a concept in Hindu philosophy and the Buddhist philosophy and refers to someone who is committed to attain Enlightenment.
Religion and Philosophy in Later Vedic Period
Religion and Philosophy in later Vedic period did see minute growth. However, rituals and traditions were religiously followed.
Theory of inference in Nyaya philosophy
Nyaya theory of inference is divided into five steps.
Theory for God in Nyaya philosophy
The Naiyayikas tried to establish the existence of God through logic.
Religious Influence on Indian Philosophy
Religious influence on Indian philosophy has been almost enigmatic, making it complimentary in perspective.
Morality and Ethics in Jain philosophy
Jains follow a fivefold path of morality and ethical purity, by which one can reach moksha.
Indian Philosophy In The Vedic Period
Indian Philosophy in the Vedic Period was primarily based on the concepts of nature worship.
Metaphysics in Jain philosophy
Metaphysics in Jain philosophy revolves heavily around the soul and its governing path and final emancipation.
Nether World in Jain Philosophy
Nether World according to Jain Cosmology consists of seven subterranean regions. Of the seven regions the above two regions serve as the abode of heavenly gods and in the rest torture of the souls is undertaken for any kind of misdeed.
Achintya Bheda Abheda Philosophy
Achintya-Bheda-Abheda is a School of Vedanta that represents the philosophy of unimaginable one-ness and difference in relation to the power creation and creator.