Core Principles of Jainism: Three Jewels

The Three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna)

Jainism is a way of life that leads to ultimate joy and happiness. The ultimate goal of Jainism is to attain Moksha or Nirvana (Liberation). We know that there exists sorrow, woe, and unhappiness in our lives. We also know that mundane souls travel through a rotation of 84 lakh Yonis (various life forms). Attaining Moksha is the ultimate solution to this cycle of birth and suffering.

According to the Tattvartha Sutra, Samyak Darshan (Right Faith), Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) together form the golden path to Moksha or Nirvana. These three together are called Triratna or Ratnatrayee. Remember, they are not three separate paths but one single path where all three work together!

Jainism teaches us how to live a good and meaningful life. One of the most important teachings of Jainism is Triratna, which means Three Jewels. These three jewels are:

1. Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)

2. Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge)

3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct)

By following these three jewels, a person can live a pure and peaceful life and move closer to Moksha (liberation). Let’s learn about them one by one.

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1. Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)

Right Faith means having true belief in Jain teachings. It is about understanding and accepting the truth about the universe, life, and karma. In Jainism, it is important to have faith in the Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers) and their teachings.

Example:

Imagine you have a treasure map, but you don’t believe it’s real. Will you follow it? No! Similarly, if we don’t trust Jain teachings, we won’t follow the right path. Right Faith is like believing in the map that guides us to truth and happiness.

Key Teachings of Right Faith:

• Believe in the Tattvas (fundamental principles of Jainism).

• Respect Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi (ascetics) and scriptures.

• Avoid false beliefs and superstitions.

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2. Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge)

Right Knowledge means understanding the truth correctly. It is not just collecting information but truly knowing what is right and wrong. Jainism teaches that knowledge should be free from doubt and confusion.

Jains believe in Anekantavada, which means that truth has many sides. Just like a single story can have different viewpoints, reality can also be seen in various ways.

Example:

There is a famous story about six blind men and an elephant. Each man touches a different part of the elephant and describes it differently—one says it’s like a wall, another like a rope, another like a fan. They are all partly right but also partly wrong. This teaches us that truth can be seen in different ways, and we must gain complete knowledge before making judgments.

How to Get the Right Knowledge?

• Study Jain scriptures like Tattvartha Sutra (written by Acharya Umaswati).

• Learn from Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi and teachers.

• Think logically and ask questions.

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3. Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct)

Right Conduct means following Jain principles. Once we have the right faith and right knowledge, we should also act correctly. Jainism teaches us to live a life full of non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), honesty (Aparigraha), and self-control (Brahmacharya).

Example:

Imagine a person who knows that eating too many sweets is bad for health but still eats them all the time. Knowing something is not enough; we must also act on it!

Five Main Vows (Mahavratas) for Right Conduct:

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence): Do not harm any living being.

2. Satya (Truthfulness): Always speak the truth.

3. Asteya (Non-stealing): Do not take what is not yours.

4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Self-control): Control desires.

5. Aparigraha (Non-attachment): Do not be greedy.

Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi follow these vows strictly (Mahavratas), while common people (householders/laymen) follow lenient versions of these vows, called Anuvratas.

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Conclusion

The Three Jewels of Jainism—Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct—are the keys to leading a good and meaningful life. If we follow them, we can live peacefully and move towards Moksha, which is freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

A Simple Way to Remember Triratna:

Think of Triratna as a three-step ladder:

1. First, believe in the right path (Right Faith).

2. Then, learn and understand it well (Right Knowledge).

3. Finally, walk on that path (Right Conduct).

By following these three jewels, we can become better humans and help others too!

Exercises

A. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the ultimate goal of Jainism?

2. What are the Three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna)?

3. Why is it important to have Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)?

4. What does Anekantavada teach us?

5. List the Five Main Vows (Mahavratas) of Jainism.

B. Fill in the blanks:

1. The three jewels of Jainism are ________, ________, and ________.

2. ________ means non-violence in Jainism.

3. ________ wrote the Tattvartha Sutra.

4. Right Knowledge should be free from ________ and ________.

5. The lenient versions of Mahavratas followed by householders are called ________.

C. True or False:

1. Jainism believes in multiple paths to Moksha. (True/False)

2. Right Faith is about blindly following Jain teachings. (True/False)

3. Jain Sadhu/Sadhvi follow Mahavratas strictly. (True/False)

4. Right Conduct means only gaining knowledge about Jain principles. (True/False)

5. Aparigraha means non-attachment. (True/False)

D. Match the following:

Column A	Column B
Ahimsa	Self-control
Satya	Non-attachment
Asteya	Non-violence
Brahmacharya	Truthfulness
Aparigraha	Non-stealing

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Thanks, 

Jyoti Kothari (Jyoti Kothari, Proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is an adviser, to Vardhaman Infotech, a leading IT company in Jaipur. He is also an ISO 9000 professional)