________________
lowest possible level of living beings. Non-violence practised by a layman is less rigorous than that by one who has no ties of family and life. A monk practises Ahiṁsā in thought, word and deed and eschews committing, commissioning and consenting to it. The way in which Mahāvīra preached and practised Ahiṁsā is worthy of study and investigation.
As helpful steps to the practice of Ahiṁsā, a layman must give up intoxicants which stupify his sense of discrimination, must avoid eating flesh which involves violence unto living beings, and lastly, even honey which involves the destruction of bees. A layman practises five vows-Ahiṁsā (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Astēya (non-stealing), Brahmacarya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (limitation of possession). These he observes partially, because the life he leads has many limitations; and he has to involve himself into harming living beings while carrying out his domestic routine, in cultivating the field, in managing his business, in protecting the honour of his family, and while defending his country against the enemies. His fifth vow makes him a trustee of his possessions and consequently his extra wealth must be spent for the benefit of others.
Non-vioience is the highest moral law which aims at the “betterment of the individual by subduing and rising above all the animal instincts” and at "sustaining a moral balance in the Society”. In the practice of the Dharma or even Ahimsa-dharma, one is expected to have a minimum or no gap between precept and practice. The life of elders has to be an open
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
