Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 002009
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jyoti Prasad Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 258
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 16 MB

Page 113

THE PATH
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a correct attitude and proper perspective. This samyag-darśana is, however, an abstract quality, not easily discernible even by the subject himself. It is only generally presumed and taken for granted, and the seeker tries to cultivate the qualities, detailed earlier, which are supposed to be the outward manifestations and indications of that spiritual experience. Kinds of Lay Seekers
Thus a lay follower may be a Jaina by birth, adoption or bias, that is, pākṣika; he may be a Jaina by conviction, that is, naişthika, or he may be a samyag-drsți (right believer), because he has acquired samyag-darśana, if not real, at least practical. The last-mentioned one, when he takes the vows of a śrāvaka, is called a vratin.
According to another classification, bhadraka, samyag-drsti, vratin, and pratimā-dhara are the four types of lay seekers. One may not be wearing the label Jaina, and yet be a Jaina in spirit, a veritable lay seeker. Eight Cardinal Qualities
The eight primary or cardinal qualities (asta-mūla-guna) of a lay follower are: abstinence from taking meat, including fish, eggs and other animal products except milk and milk products; abstinence from drinking wine and other spiritual liquors; refraining from eating honey squeezed out of live honeycombs; and avoidance of indiscriminate and unchecked indulgence in the five sinful practices-injury to other living beings, falsehood, theft including robbery, cheating and misappropriation, unlawful sexual relations, and acquisition of material possessións.
Sometimes, abstinence from indulgence in gambling, prostitution, adultery and sport (hunting animals and birds), and from eating the fruit of certain trees like the banyan, pipal and fig, the five udumbaras, are also included among the eight cardinal qualities.