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  • Basic “self‑check”: signs you may have Samyak‑darśan Classically, eight aṅgas (limbs) of Samyak‑dṛṣṭi are described (common to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara, only spellings differ). ( jainknowledge.com) Ask yourself honestly: 1. Niśaṅkitā – Absence of
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    Basic “self‑check”: signs you may have Samyak‑darśan Classically, eight aṅgas (limbs) of Samyak‑dṛṣṭi are described (common to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara, only spellings differ). ( jainknowledge.com) Ask yourself honestly: 1. Niśaṅkitā – Absence of

    8 months ago 36

    You are doing a very sincere and honest self‑check. That sincerity itself is a strong “seed” of Samyak‑darśan.

    A few very important points first:

    • These 8 aṅgas are signs/helps, not a stick to beat yourself with.
    • In Jain Dharma, Samyak‑darśan has grades (aupśamik, kṣayopśamik, kṣāyik). In the beginning it can be unsteady, mixed, wavering.
    • Occasional wrong thoughts arising due to old habits or sanskārs do not automatically mean “I definitely have no Samyak‑darśan.” What matters is your settled belief and your direction.

    Now, about each point you mentioned:

    ---

    1. Niśaṅkitā – Absence of doubt

    You wrote: > Do I really have no doubt that Jain tattvas and the Jain path are true? – “Sometimes”

    In early stages, it is common that:

    • most of the time you feel Jain tattvas are true,
    • but sometimes a small doubt or confusion comes.

    If:

    • your basic trust is with Jina-vāṇī, and
    • doubts make you study more, ask, think,
    then this is very close to Niśaṅkitā in a growing form.

    Work gently on:

    • more śravaṇ & svādhyāy (listening, reading),
    • contemplating the 9 tattvas, 12 bhāvanās.

    Over time, “sometimes” moves towards “almost never.”

    ---

    2. Nikāṅkṣitā – No worldly expectation from dharma

    You wrote: > I do follow for mokṣa, but also for health/miracle (although rarely).

    This is very normal at the beginning. Most people start religion with some worldly hopes.

    Nikāṅkṣitā means:

    • “Even if I get sickness, loss, insult; I still feel – Jin‑dharma is true, and my real goal is mokṣa.”

    You can grow this by:

    • reminding yourself: “Body and circumstances are temporary; soul and karma are real.”
    • doing small sādhanā (samayik, pratikraman, pāth) without bargaining with Bhagwān, just as a duty to the Self.

    Your awareness that “I should follow mainly for mokṣa” is already the right direction.

    ---

    3. Nirvicikitsā – No disgust for true dharma & sādhus

    You mentioned two things:

    a) Shyness when walking with sādhus/sādhvīs

    Feeling shy because:

    • people stare,
    • you don’t like attention,

    is not the same as disgust or aversion towards sādhus.

    Nirvicikitsā = no inner hatred, irritation, or contempt for:

    • vītarāg mūrtis,
    • Jain rules,
    • sādhus–sādhvīs, pratikraman, etc.

    Your shyness is a social personality issue, not dharma‑aversion. Do not punish yourself for that. You can respectfully greet them even from a little distance if that is more comfortable.

    b) Aversion to nude images of Tīrthaṅkar Bhagwān (Digambar mūrtis)

    You wrote: > When I see images of Tirthankar Bhagwan I do get aversion although unwillingly such thoughts pop up because of their nudity, but I feel regret and ask forgiveness.

    This is very important:

    • Modern mind + upbringing + social conditioning = automatic reactions to nudity.
    • These are often kashāy + habit, not your true belief about Bhagwān.
    • The fact that you:
    - immediately regret, - ask for forgiveness, - know “this is wrong”,

    shows that your deep side respects Bhagwān.

    Traditional understanding (especially Digambar):

    • Nude idol = total aparigraha, complete renunciation of every possession, even clothes.
    • Body is just ajīva dravya; your reverence is for the Kevalī soul, not for external form.

    So:

    • Don’t conclude “I surely don’t have Samyak‑darśan.”
    • Conclude: “Old habits and wrong saṁskārs still arise, but I am moving towards true reverence.”

    You are doing the right thing:

    • accept the wrong thought,
    • do apology (ālochana–pratikraman),
    • learn more about why Digambar idols are nude,
    • slowly train your mind to see śuddha ātmā, not skin.

    This is gradual purification of Nirvicikitsā.

    ---

    4. Amūḍha‑dṛṣṭi – Not confused by wrong teachings

    You wrote: > I do feel sad when someone criticizes Jain dharma.

    Feeling:

    • sadness,
    • pain,

    because someone insults dharma is actually a good sign of attachment to true dharma.

    Amūḍha‑dṛṣṭi means:

    • not getting shaken,
    • not running after “miracles”,
    • not becoming attracted to wrong deva–guru–dharma just because others praise them.

    You can strengthen this by:

    • understanding why Jain dharma is logical, non‑violent, karma‑based,
    • calmly thinking: “They speak like this due to mithyātva; I should feel karuṇā, not hatred.”

    If criticism pushes you towards more study and inner firmness, it is helping your Amūḍha‑dṛṣṭi grow.

    ---

    5–8. Upagūhana, Sthitikaraṇa, Vātsalya, Prabhāvanā

    You didn’t write much here, but use these as gentle mirrors:

    1. Upagūhana – Protecting others’ honor

    - Do I avoid gossip about small faults of other shrāvaks/sādhus? - Do I try to cover and correct rather than expose and insult?

    1. Sthitikaraṇa – Helping others stay in right faith

    - Do I softly encourage family/friends to: - do samayik, - go to satsang, - avoid obvious wrong beliefs?

    1. Vātsalya – Affection for dharma‑bhāvi people

    - Do I feel a special softness and joy towards those who: - do sādhanā, - live simply, - walk towards mokṣa?

    1. Prabhāvanā – Promoting Jain dharma

    - Do I like to: - support pravachan, pāṭhśālā, granth, mandir, - share true Jain principles (ahiṁsā, anekānt, aparigraha) in a simple way?

    Even if all eight are not perfect, any genuine effort in these directions is a sign of closeness to Samyak‑darśan‑bhāva.

    ---

    So… do you have Samyak‑darśan?

    According to śāstra, only an omniscient (Kevalī) or one with very high spiritual knowledge can say with certainty: “this soul definitely has Samyak‑darśan now.”

    But we can say this safely:

    • Your honest introspection,
    • your regret for wrong thoughts,
    • your pain when dharma is insulted,
    • your wish to follow for mokṣa,

    are strong signs of a bhav close to Samyak‑dṛṣṭi or at least moving towards it.

    Rather than trying to label yourself,

    • keep strengthening these 8 aṅgas,
    • keep daily pratikraman and svādhyāy,
    • keep asking forgiveness for slips,
    • keep your main goal as mokṣa, not health, money, or miracles.

    This is exactly how Samyak‑darśan becomes clearer, stronger, and more stable.

    You can read a simple explanation of these eight aṅgas and Samyak‑darśan here: Eight aṅgas of Samyak‑dṛṣṭi “How to get Samyak‑darśan”

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