Answer

Yes. In Digambar Jainism, human birth is considered extremely rare and is attained only after wandering through countless births in saṃsāra.

A soul may take birth in many forms—hellish beings, animals, plants, microorganisms, celestial beings, and humans—according to its karmas. Among these, human birth is especially precious because it gives the best opportunity for right faith, self-discipline, spiritual practice, and liberation.

Explanation

According to Jain Dharma, the soul has been wandering in saṃsāra from beginningless time. Due to karmas, it repeatedly takes birth in different gatis:

• Naraka gati — hellish state
• Tiryanca gati — animals, plants, and lower life forms
• Manuṣya gati — human birth
• Deva gati — celestial state

Digambar Jain tradition teaches that human birth is difficult to obtain because:

• Most souls remain bound in lower forms of life due to delusion and karma.
• Human life requires special karmic conditions.
• Only in human birth can one properly practice vows, restraint, austerity, and the path to moksha.

So, saying that human birth comes after “countless rebirths” is consistent with Jain understanding, because the soul has passed through innumerable births before obtaining this rare human state.

Spiritual Understanding

Human birth is not valued merely because of intelligence or comfort. It is valued because it gives the soul a chance to awaken.

In Digambar Jainism, even heavenly birth is not considered superior to human birth for liberation, because heavenly beings enjoy pleasures but cannot directly attain moksha from that state. A human being can develop:

• Samyagdarśana — right faith
• Samyagjñāna — right knowledge
• Samyakcāritra — right conduct

These three are the path to liberation.

Takeaway

Yes, Jainism teaches that human birth is obtained after countless wandering births and is extremely rare. Therefore, Digambar Jain Dharma encourages us not to waste human life, but to use it for self-purification, restraint, compassion, and liberation.