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SATTHA PARINNA: PADHAMAM AJJHAYANAM
SHASTRA PARIJNA : FIRST CHAPTER THE TRUTH ABOUT WEAPONS
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INTRODUCTION The title of the first chapter of Acharanga Sutra is 'Sattha Parinna' or 'The Truth About Weapons'. The means or instruments of violence are called weapons (shastra). A thing capable of destroying another is a weapon for that (Abhidhan Rajendra, part 7, page 331). A sword and other such material instruments of violence are physical weapons and attitudes and intentions guided by attachment or aversion are mental weapons. Vivek (sagacity or discerning attitude) and samyam (discipline or self-control) are the meanings given to the word parijna by acharyas (preceptors). The true knowledge of fundamentals is jna-parijna or vivek and to abandon the instruments or means of violence is pratyakhyan-parijna or samyam. The meaning of shastra-prijna is—to acquire knowledge of the form and instruments of violence, to understand about its bitter fruits and consequently abandon the same. To be free of violence or himsa is ahimsa. The foundation of the ahimsa attitude rests in soul. The awareness of existence of soul strengthens faith in ahimsa. This inspires endeavour at samyam (ascetic-discipline) and then only ahimsa could be practiced properly. This chapter mainly contains preaching to refrain from violence of six life forms (shadjiva nikaya). In the first lesson of the first chapter, first of all, recognition of soul has been discussed. Once soul is accepted, the belief in the
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Illustrated Acharanga Sutra
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