Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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A śravaka should avoid all these 1. He should not give a speech or sermon that disturbs peace or incites disturbance. 2. He should not reveal secrets of other men and women. 3. He should not indulge in forgery including that of documents, currency, and labels. 4. He should not misappropriate things belonging to others. 5. He should not express the feelings of another being evident to him through facial or bodily gestures with the intention of harming that being.
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THE MINOR VOW OF NON-STEALING
To take a thing that is not given by its owner is theft. Not taking such thing is non-stealing. A śrāvaka observing this vow does not take a thing abandoned by someone. He also does not indulge in acts of stealing, robbery, and snatching him-self or through others.
He should sagaciously avoid activities that may vitiate the observation of this vow in any way. Some such precautions are - 1. A śrāvaka does not steal and at the same time he does not even inspire and advise others to steal. 2. He does not take or purchase a stolen thing. 3. He does not indulge in smuggling, tax evasion, blackmarketing, and anti-national activities. 4. He does not tamper with weights and measures and under-measure or over-measure things. 5. He does not indulge in adulterating things.
All these are immoral, criminal, anti-national and anti-social activities.
THE MINOR VOW OF CELIBACY
Craving to indulge in sexual act in order to satiate one's lust is non-celibacy. Desire to copulate is also a type of pain. The means of getting relief from that pain is celibacy not indulgence. As scratching provides temporary relief in itching but this relief is followed by pain. In the same way indulgence appears to provide relief from this pain of carnal desire. For some time it provides joy also but this joy is followed by enhanced pain of increased sexual craving. A householder observes partial celibacy in the form of the vow to remain contented with wife and that too in order to continue his family lineage. Moreover, such vow is very important in context of social morality and order. The vow of being contented with one's own wife is meant for self-discipline.
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