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Chapter Sūga 2-3
283
The great saints up to today have indicated that one should turn their skillful intellect towards daily sustenance. 1]
Now, what does it say about the distinctions of vows? In all places, there is a general understanding. 2.
The less intensive renunciation is "Āśūvrata" and the more intensive renunciation is "Mahāvrata." Each renunciation not only liberates from faults; however, the nature of these renunciations is not the same and such variation is natural according to the process of development. Therefore, here, the fundamental principles, like non-violence, and many of those renunciations are recognized as vows, and two distinctions have been made: 1. To totally refrain from all forms of faults through the mind, speech, and body is known as the non-violence major vow (Mahāvrata). And 2. To refrain from as much as possible, yet allow some relaxation is referred to as the non-violence minor vow (Aṇuvrata). [2]
Now, regarding the essence of vows, it states:
"To stabilize that vow, there are five sentiments for each." 3.
The sentiments referred to in this sutra are found in the commentaries of the Śvetāmbara tradition, and hence, there are no separate sutras for that. In the Digambara tradition, there are five additional sutras for those sentiments numbered 4-8. See the appendix.