Practical Path

SR No.: 006703
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1917
Total Pages: 268
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

Page 91

THE PRACTICAL PATH. those known to follow a wrong faith. This will enable him to observe the vows which mark the first stage of Right Conduct. The twelve vows* are :(i) To refrain from killing and destroying. Killing
means the forcible separation of the body of gross matter from the two other bodies, the kârmâna and the taijasa. It is forbidden, because it is the source of pain to the living being concerned, and also because it betrays ignorance of the nature of soul in the destroyer. Himsâ is the immediate cause of hard-heartedness, and leads to re-births in bells and to suffering and pain generally. This vow extends to all kinds of killing whether it be done for sport, science (vivisection), dress (skin, feathers, and the like), food, private revenge, religion (sacrifices), comfort (destruction of insects, and the like), as a punishment to evil doers (capital sentence), in self-defence, or for any ether purpose. A king who fights in defending his empire, however, does not violate this vow, for his motive is to protect his subjects. The vow also extends to such acts as tying up animals too tightly, beating them mercilessly, cutting their limbs, overloading them or neglecting to feed them
* The first five of these vows are called anu vratas (minor or less rigid vows), the next three gura vratas (guna=qualities) because they widen the scope of the five aru vratas ; and the last four shiksha vratas (study vratas) because of their being helpful in study and meditation.