History of Indian Philosophy

SR No.: 007593
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Surendranath Dasgupta
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 2517
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 125 MB

Page 216

VI]
Rules of Conduct
199
Jaina Cosmography.
According to the Jains, the world is eternal, without beginning or end. Loka is that place in which happiness and misery are experienced as results of virtue and vice. It is composed of three parts, ūrdhva (where the gods reside), madhya (this world of ours), and adho (where the denizens of hell reside). The mundane universe (lokākāśa) is pervaded with dharma which makes all movement possible. Beyond the lokākāśa there is no dharma and therefore no movement, but only space (ākāśa). Surrounding this lokākāśa are three layers of air. The perfected soul rising straight over the urdhvaloka goes to the top of this lokākāśa and (there being no dharma) remains motionless there.
Jaina Yoga.
Yoga according to Jainism is the cause of mokṣa (salvation). This yoga consists of jñāna (knowledge of reality as it is), śraddha (faith in the teachings of the Jinas), and caritra (cessation from doing all that is evil). This caritra consists of ahimsa (not taking any life even by mistake or unmindfulness), sūnṛta (speaking in such a way as is true, good and pleasing), asteya (not taking anything which has not been given), brahmacaryya (abandoning lust for all kinds of objects, in mind, speech and body), and aparigraha (abandoning attachment for all things)'. These strict rules of conduct only apply to ascetics who are bent on attaining perfection. The standard proposed for the ordinary householders is fairly workable. Thus it is said by Hemacandra, that ordinary householders should earn money honestly, should follow the customs of good people, should marry a good girl from a good family, should follow the customs of the country and so forth. These are just what we should expect from any good and
1 Certain external rules of conduct are also called căritra. These are: Tryya (to go by the path already trodden by others and illuminated by the sun's rays, so that proper precaution may be taken while walking to prevent oneself from treading on insects, etc., which may be lying on the way), bhāṣā (to speak well and pleasantly to all beings), işana (to beg alms in the proper monastic manner), dānasamiti (to inspect carefully the seats avoiding all transgressions when taking or giving anything), utsargasamiti (to take care that bodily refuse may not be thrown in such a way as to injure any being), manogupti (to remove all false thoughts, to remain satisfied within oneself, and hold all people to be the same in mind), väggupti (absolute silence), and kāyagupti (absolute steadiness and fixity of the body). Five other kinds of caritra are counted in Dravyasamgrahavṛtti 35.