Ethical Doctrines in Jainism

SR No.: 006955
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 322
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

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ETHICAL DOCTRINES IN JAINISM
like. 4) The gifts should be given according to the ninefold ways of entertaining a Pătra. This process consists of reception, offering a high seat, washing the feet, adoration, salutation, purity of mind, purity of body, purity of speech and purity of food. The saints should be entertained with the above formalities but the other Pātras according to their merits. 5) As regards the yield of gift, greed is overcome by Dāna and consequently Atithidāna amounts to the renunciation of Hiṁsā.8 Besides, just as water washes away blood, so proper gifts to saints would for certain wipe off the sins accumulated on account of the unavoidable household affairs. The paying of obeisance to the holy saints causes noble birth; the giving of Dāna to them entails prosperous living; their servitude promotes high respect; their devotion determines gracious look; and the extolling of their virtues brings about celebrity.5 Vasunandi tells us that the gift to Pātras is just like a seed sown in a fertile land; gift to Kupātras is just like a seed sown in a semi-fertile land; and the gift to Apātras is just like a seed sown in a barren land.
The five Aticāras of this vow are:? 1) placing food on things having life, 2) covering food with things having life, 3) offering food at an improper time, 4) offering some other person's food, and 5) lack of interest or jealousy towards the other giver.
Two WAYS OF DESCRIBING THE HOUSEHOLDER'S ETHICAL DISCIPLINE: VRATAS, AND PRATIMĀS: We have so far endeavoured to expound the characteristic nature of Anuvratas, Gunavratas an last two types of Vratas, which are called Sīlavraťas, are capable of educating the individual for the exalted life of renunciation. They deepen his consciousness of sin, thereby encouraging him to shun totally the causes of subtle Hiṁsā, which prevent the full-fledged performance of the auspicious Dhyānas (Dharma and Sukla). It is evident that
1 Puru. 170. 2 Puru. 168. Vasu. Srāva. 225. Kārtti. 360. Yaś. and Ic. p. 284. Haribhadra includes these processes in Satkāra, while commenting on the definition of the vow given by the Śrūvaka Prajñapti. (Śrāva. Prajña. Comm. 325). 3 Puru. 172. 4 Ratna. Srāva. 114. 5 Ratna. Srāva. 115. 6 Vasu. Śrāva. 240, 241, 242. 7 Sarvārtha. VII. 36. Rāja. VII. 36. The names of these Aticāras are the same in Digambara and Svetāmbara works, but the meaning differs slightly. We have followed Pajyapāda's meaning. 8 We shall deal with these two Dhyānas in the subsequent chapter.