Harmless Soul

SR No.: 001196
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: W J Johnson, Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 372
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Principle
File Size: 20 MB

Page 36

22 Harmless Souls
intentional or unintentional himsā is repeatedly stressed (see 4.1-9). This is combined with a constant awareness of the extreme difficulty of treading such a path. At Dasaveyaliya 6.4, it is described as 'the hard, difficult conduct of the Free Ones'.50 And, even more explicitly, in the following verse it is said (perhaps even boasted) that,
In no other (system) has been taught anything which, among worldly people, is (so) hard to carry out; a man may adhere to a great many tenets, (but there has) never been (taught), nor will be (taught to him) anything like our principles. 51
The Дyaramga Sutta is more laconic: 'A very severe religion has been proclaimed'. 52
In all these early monastic rules, nothing is said about intention or attitude as such; for what counts for salvation is physical harm itself; what causes the harming action to arise is of secondary concern. In other words, it is harmful action (himsa) which is directly instrumental in bondage, not attitude. Attitude is only significant in so far as it leads to or away from himsā; it does not cause karmic bondage in itself.
50 Schubring's trans. of: nigganthāṇam durahiṭṭhiyam
51 Schubring's trans. of:
nannattha erisam vuttam jam loe parama-duccaram viula-ṭṭhāṇa-bhāissa na bhūyam na bhavissai || Das. 6.5 ||
The precise meaning of this verse is obscure. Lalwani (1973) gives an even freer translation:
...
'This sort of highly difficult conduct
For the world of human beings
Is delineated nowhere save in nirgrantha philosophy.
āyāragoyaram
For those covetous of mokṣa
Such conduct has nowhere been prescribed in the past Nor will it ever be prescribed in the future.'
The general meaning, however, is not in doubt. 52 Ay. 1.6.4.2: ghore dhamme udīrie.