Jains in India and Abroad

SR No.: 007601
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Prakash C Jain
Publisher: International Summer School for Jain Studies
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 260
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 51

The Shvetambar tradition, as already mentioned, does not take nudity to be an essential quality of a monk. Besides this, the last two qualities also do not find a place amongst essentials of a monk in the Shvetambar tradition. The Shvetambar tradition enumerates the following 27 qualities as essential for a monk:
12.
14. 15
1-5 Five great vows, 6. Not taking food in the night, 7-11 Controling the five senses,
Inner purity, 13. Purity of possessions of a monk,
Forgiveness,
Detachment, 16. Mental goodness, 17. Vocal goodness, 18. Physical goodness, 19-24. Protection of the six types of living beings,
Three-fold discipline, 26. Forbearance, and 27. Sallekhana-vrata.
25.
It would be observed that the ethical codes of conduct for both the ascetics and the householders are more or less common, though in the case of ascetics it is more rigorous for obvious reasons. There is also a gradation in both the codes, and the householders and the ascetics are required to follow a graduated course of conduct keeping in mind the individual capacity of the person. Moreover, it must also be kept in mind that "though the rules of conduct as prescribed by Jainism appear to be too elaborate and sometimes even superfluous, yet the basic idea behind these rules is that of selfrealisation. When there is a feeling-realisation of the true nature of the self and when one is completely lost in the bliss of selfmeditation, the observance of all the moral rules becomes spontaneous coming from within and not being an imposition from without” (Bhargava 1968: 220).
Practicality of Jain Asceticism for Laity Scriptural reading of Jainism and particularly that of its ethical codes of conduct establishes the salvation or moksha-marg discourse as
37
Jains in India and Abroad