First Steps to Jainism Part 1

SR No.: 001640
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 300
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Education
File Size: 10 MB

Page 79

tion of life even if it is a gross act its renunciation is desirable for the sake of balanced maintenance of popular life. Besides, such a renunciation is possible for the most part. Thus even if there has been no renunciation of all acts of negligence but if the tendency towards gross deprivation of life has been reduced then too there often arises happiness and peace in popular life. Certainly, in virtue of the stage-wise evolution of the tendency to non violence it becomes possible that among the people at large there takes place first the renunciation of gross deprivation of life and gradually the renunciation of all acts of negligence. Hence even though the renunciation of violence of the form of act of negligence is recommended to be adopted as an instrument of high spiritual evolution, yet from the point of view of popular life the gross deprivation of life too is treated as a case of violence and its renunciation as a case of non-violence."
The Three Hallmarks 65
21. Having analysed the nature of violence (and its opposite nonviolence) we take-up the various divisions and sub-divisions of violence. There are three stages of any activity i.e. (a) planning (b) preparation, and (c) execution. Similarly, in respect of a violent act there are three stages viz.,(a) planning known as Samarambh, (b) preparation known as Sarambh and (c) execution known as Arambh. Each of these three types may be performed due to any one of the four passions viz., anger, pride, deceit and greed, which gives us twelve types of violence. Each of these twelve types may be done by any one of the three types of media i.e., mind, speech or body e.g. a man motivated by greed may plan mentally to kill and so no. This gives 12 X 3 =36 categories of violence. Again, we know that an act can be committed by oneself or it can be got done by another or one may approve of some one else doing the same which are the three methods. Applying these three methods to the 36 categories mentioned we get 108 varieties of violence.
22. Perfect practice of non-violence is to shun each one of the 108 types of violence mentioned in the previous paragraph which is the bounden duty of Jain saints or Shramanas. Thus a Jain monk shall not plan or prepare or execute with anger or pride or deceit or greed by mind or body or word either himself or through another or approve committing any act which injure any of the ten