Epitome Of Jainism: Trinity

Jainism believes in the fourfold path of emancipation - knowledge, perception, character and penance. All the four may be right or perverted. When they are right, they lead to emancipation and when they are perverted, they make the soul revolve in the unending cycle of birth and death.

The trinity - right knowledge, right perception and right character - is the pivot for self-realization. Jainism believes that neither of the three alone can lead to perfection. When all the three get clubbed, the desired goal is achieved.

Perception precedes knowledge and knowledge influences character. Character leads to the complete annihilation of Karmas, which results in the freedom of the soul.

First of all, our vision must be clear and unaffected by pre-occupations. It should be able to comprehend realities in their true forms and must rely on their true existence. Obstinacy never touches the fringes of the abode of right perception. A man of right vision takes the things as they are and realizes them in their reality. He gets right perception of the end, the means and the door of Sadhana. The true understanding and perception of these three leads one to right knowledge. Knowledge which is bereft of perception is not true. It is the right perception, which leads to right knowledge.