Jaina Ethics

SR No.: 001334
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 314
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

Page 138

The Conduct of a Householder
121
given to others when weighing or measuring.1 Siddhasena Ganın includes charging abnormal interest on the lent money under this transgression.2
(5) Pratir upaka Vyavahāra: According to Camuṇḍarāya, it means fraudulent trading in fictitious or alloyed gold and similar commodities. According to Siddhasena, it means alloying of gold, silver, brass, copper, oil, ghee, milk or curds with materials that resemble them in colour, weight and other properties.4
It is clear from the foregoing account of the aticāras of the vow of non-stealing that the vow is very comprehensive and forbids almost all such acts of direct or indirect theft as are punishable under modern law.
Vow of brahmacarya (celibacy) :
The vow of brahmacarya, which literally means 'treading into the soul', stands for abstinence from sexual intercourse. In wider sense, any action which leads to extroversion goes against this vow. The importance of brahmacarya has been emphasised since Vedic times.5
In Jainism, which lays more emphasis on ascetic qualities than Brāhmaṇism, brahmacarya occupies a much more important place. In Brāhmaṇism, the position is quite different because marriage is considered to be a social obligation. This is not so in Jainism where total avoidance of sex is highly extolled. All these traditions, however, agree in prohibiting the sexual intercourse beyond one's duly married wife (svadāra).
Samantabhadra has, therefore, included in this vow renunciation of contact with another man's wife and remaining contented with one's own wife." Somadeva has advised to consider all women except one's wife, as mother, sister, or daughter. According to him the ten concomitants of sexual desire are wine, meat, gambling, music including songs and dance, bodily decoration, intoxication, libertines and aimless wanderings.7
1.
Caritrasāra, pp. 10-11.
2. Ganin, Siddhasena on Tattvärthasutra, 7.22.
3. Caritrasāra, p. 11.
Ganin, Siddhasena on Tattvärthasutra, 7.22.
4.
5. Atharvaveda, 11.5.
6. Ratnakarandaśrāvakācāra, 59.
7. Handiqui, K. K., Tasastilaka and Indian Culture, pp. 266-267.