दर्शनपाहुड : एक अध्ययन
By डॉ. कस्तूरचन्द जैन “सुमन”
Summary
The text is a study of the Darshanapahuda, a spiritual work by Acharya Kundakunda, which is part of the larger Ashtapahuda. The Darshanapahuda is presented as the first step toward liberation (moksha). The text explains that while human birth and a noble lineage are rare, achieving right faith (samyag darshana) is essential for attaining eternal bliss and liberation. Acharya Kundakunda emphasizes that right faith alone is insufficient; it must be accompanied by knowledge, conduct, austerity, and discipline. The work stresses that those lacking right faith are not worthy of veneration. True veneration is reserved for those who are immersed in right faith, knowledge, conduct, austerity, and humility. The text clarifies that veneration is based on qualities, not on body, lineage, or caste. It states that even a person with only right faith is worthy of respect, as it is the foundation for other virtues. The Acharya warns that those who, out of jealousy, fail to respect the naturally arisen Digambara form, even if they are restrained, are considered to have false views. Similarly, those who consider themselves superior after seeing the venerable form of the Jina are devoid of right faith. The text asserts that the un-restrained, including those with only external nudity but lacking inner restraint, are not worthy of veneration. The essence of the teaching is that knowledge is the essence for a person, but right faith is even more essential, as it is the root of right conduct, which leads to liberation. The text highlights that all liberated beings achieved their state through the combination of knowledge, faith, austerity, and conduct. It underscores that right faith is the first step on the path to liberation, and without it, even severe austerities for eons cannot lead to the attainment of the ratnatraya (three jewels). The study concludes by reiterating that right faith is the foundation, and one should act according to their capacity while maintaining faith in right conduct, as faith naturally leads to
Conclusion
This study underscores that samyagdarśana (right faith) is the indispensable foundation of the path to liberation, without which even rigorous asceticism cannot yield mokṣa. Ācārya Kundakunda’s analysis establishes that while knowledge and conduct are essential, they are meaningless if severed from right faith. The text’s implications are clear: spiritual progress depends not on external marks or status but on inner conviction and vītarāgatā (detachment). For the aspirant, the outcome is a practical directive—prioritize and stabilize samyagdarśana, as it alone ensures that one’s knowledge and conduct become effective instruments for liberation. This teaching reaffirms the rarity of human birth and the urgency of cultivating right faith within it.