Jaina Community a Social Survey

SR No.: 007019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Popular Book Depot Bombay
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 484
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 231

Jaina Ethics and Miscellaneous Customs and Manners
that the soul is in contact with the Karmic matter from time eternal and the way to salvation lies in the destruction of Karmas. We have seen that the samvara of the asrayas and the nirjarā lead to Moksha. This means that the necessary conditions to gain Moksha are samvara and nirjara, that is, the stoppage of influx of Karmic matter and the falling away of existing Karmic matter from the soul. Thus samvara and nirjara are the two important milestones on the path to liberation and naturally the principles of right conduct by Jainas are shaped with a view to accomplish samvara and nirjara as early as possible. Therefore let us see the way chalked out by Jainas to attain samvara and nirjară.
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(A) Way to Samvara:
Samvara is the stoppage of influx of Karmic matter into the soul and the stoppage is effected by:
(a) three kinds of Gupti, that is, control of mind, speech and body,
(b) five kinds of Samiti, that is, carefulness,
(c) ten kinds of Dharma, that is, observances or virtues, (d) twelve kinds of Anupreksha, that is, meditations or reflections,
(e) twenty-two kinds of Parishaha-jaya, that is, subdual of sufferings, and
(f) five kinds of Charitra, that is, conduct.32
(a) The three Guptis :- The three guptis are regulations with reference to controlling one's inner nature, that is, they are dictated by the principles of self-control. The first of them is Manogupti by which the minds to be controlled in the shape of giving room only to pure thoughts. The second Gupti is Väg-gupti, that is, regulation of speech and it consists in observing silence for a particular period or in speaking only as much as is absolutely necessary. The third is Kaya-gupti, that is, regulation of one's bodily activity.33
(b) The five Samitis are designed with a view to cultivate the habit of carefulness in accordance with the principle of noninjury. The Samitis are prescriptions for the regulation of the movements of the body and are as follows: