Essence of Jainism

SR No.: 001537
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 228
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Religion
File Size: 12 MB

Page 147

Celibacy according to Jainism
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looseness in celibacy in the Śramana cult, and so many fell a prey to a very much undesirable atmosphere. That is the reason why Bhagavan Mahavira separately mentioned celibacy as an indepen. dent fifth great vow.
(4) The Aim of Celibacy and Means
Like all other vows and observances in Jainism, the aim even of celibacy is liberation. Anything considered to be important may be fulfilled by celibacy; if liberation is not attained to through it, then, from the point of view of Jainism, celibacy is not extraordinary, it is not spiritual. In the eyes of Jainism, only the things useful in the attainment of liberation hold real importance. When liberation is the ideal of celibacy, other goals like physical health, social force etc. are automatically attained to.
Two are the paths fixed for a complete attainment of celibacy. They are the path of action and the path of knowledge. The path of action prevents the excitement of passion that is diametrically opposed to liberation and prevents the gross poison of disorder from entering the life of the celibate. It thus fulfils the prohibitive side. But passion is not uprooted outright by it. The path of knowledge roots out passion completely and makes celibacy always and fully natural. It thus fulfils its prescriptive side. To talk in jain terminology, the path of action fulfils celibacy in a spirit of calming down passions ete.; the path of knowledge fulfils it in a spirit of annihilating passions etc. The function of the path of action is to prepare a firm background for the path of knowledge. The path is therefore imperfect and yet very much useful. For all Sadhakas, this path is the first necessity and therefore Jain Scri-ptures lay great stress on it. Several external rules are included in it. This is Gupti-Gupti is a defence mechanism or a hedge. Their number is nine. With the addition of one more rule, ten Samudhis-thanakas of celibacy are described.
The sixteenth Adhyayana in the Uttaradhyayanasutra describes the ten Samadhisthānas in a very subtle manner. This is its