Answer

In Jain Dharma, Śam or Sham is one of the important lakṣaṇas of Samyaktva — signs of Right Faith.

Sham means inner calmness, peacefulness, and subsiding of harmful passions.

A person with Samyaktva does not remain constantly disturbed by anger, ego, deceit, greed, likes, dislikes, praise, insult, gain, or loss. The soul begins to experience a quieter, more balanced state because its faith is turning toward truth.

Explanation

Sham does not mean that all passions are completely destroyed. In the early stage of Samyaktva, passions may still arise, but their intensity becomes weaker and their duration becomes shorter.

It means:

• The mind becomes more peaceful.
• Anger reduces.
• Revengeful thinking reduces.
• Attachment and hatred begin to soften.
• The person becomes less reactive.
• There is greater control over speech and behavior.
• The person develops patience and tolerance.

For example, before Samyaktva, if someone insults a person, he may immediately become angry and want to retaliate. But with Sham, he may still feel hurt, yet he reflects:

• “Anger will only bind more karma.”
• “This body, praise, and insult are temporary.”
• “My true nature is the soul.”

Because of this right understanding, the disturbance gradually becomes weaker.

Sham and Kashāyas

In Jain philosophy, the main inner enemies are the four kashāyas:

• Krodh — anger
• Mān — pride or ego
• Māyā — deceit
• Lobh — greed

Sham is the calming or subsiding tendency of these kashāyas.

It is not merely outer silence. A person may appear quiet outside but may be burning with anger inside. That is not true Sham. True Sham is inner reduction of agitation.

Difference Between Sham and Complete Passionlessness

Sham should not be confused with the perfect state of a Kevalī or Siddha.

• Sham means passions are becoming calm or subdued.
• Complete destruction of passions happens only at very advanced spiritual stages.

So, Sham is a sign that the soul has begun walking in the right direction. It is a mark of spiritual awakening, not yet final liberation.

Spiritual Understanding

Samyaktva is Right Faith — true conviction in:

• the soul,
• karma,
• punya and pāp,
• bondage and liberation,
• the path shown by Jina Bhagwan.

When this right vision arises, the soul naturally becomes less fascinated by worldly conflicts. It understands that anger, ego, deceit, and greed are harmful to its own purity.

Therefore, Sham is the natural fragrance of Samyaktva. Just as a flower naturally gives fragrance, Right Faith naturally brings inner calmness.

Practical Signs of Sham

A person developing Sham may show these qualities:

• He forgives more easily.
• He avoids unnecessary arguments.
• He does not become overly excited by praise.
• He does not collapse due to criticism.
• He speaks more carefully.
• He tries to see his own faults.
• He becomes more interested in dharma and self-purification.
• He reduces harmful reactions toward others.

What Sham Is Not

Sham is not:

• weakness,
• fear,
• suppression of emotions,
• pretending to be calm,
• indifference toward dharma,
• outer silence with inner anger.

True Sham is born from right understanding, not from helplessness or social pressure.

How to Cultivate Sham

In Jain practice, Sham is strengthened through:

• Samayik — remaining in equanimity.
• Pratikraman — repentance for faults.
• Svādhyāy — study of Jain teachings.
• Anuprekṣā — reflection on truths such as impermanence, loneliness of the soul, and karma.
• Forgiveness — reducing anger and revenge.
• Awareness of karma-bandh — remembering that passions bind karma.
• Association with sādhus, sādhvīs, and dharmic people.

Takeaway

Sham means the peaceful subsiding of inner passions.

It is a sign of true Samyaktva because when the soul gains Right Faith, it naturally becomes calmer, less reactive, and more detached from worldly disturbances.

In simple words:

Where Samyaktva arises, inner agitation begins to reduce; that inner calmness is Sham.