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The Tattvarthasutra also emphasizes the continuous effort to diminish the fundamental defects of the mind, such as the craving for gross life and the resultant defects of attachment and aversion.
Question: What is the meaning of the defectiveness of harm (himsa) mentioned above?
Answer: When the softness of the mind is reduced and harshness increases, and the craving for gross life becomes larger, that is the defectiveness of harm. When harshness does not increase and there is no hindrance to the natural loving inclination and inward life, then even if it appears to be harm, that is the non-defectiveness of harm.
Nature of Falsehood
Asadbhidhanamanrtam. 9. Speaking of the False is untruth (asatya).
In the sutra, false speech (asat-kathan) is called untruth; however, due to its broad meaning, it encompasses false contemplation, false speech, and false conduct. All of these are untruth. Just as 'pramattayog' is added as an epithet in the explanation of ahimsa, similarly this epithet should also be included in the explanation of the defects of amaty (killing) and adattadana (theft). Therefore, what is false speech in a state of pramattayog is untruth; this is the evident meaning of the defect of untruth.
The word 'asat' here primarily implies two meanings:
1. Completely denying the existence of what has reality, or even if not denying it, speaking of it in a way that does not conform to its actual nature.
2. Gahita asat, meaning a statement having ill intent that causes pain to others even though it is true.
According to the first meaning, when there is capital in hand and the creditor (moneylender) asks for repayment, saying that there is nothing at all is untruth. Similarly, even after acknowledging that there is capital nearby, stating that the creditor cannot succeed in that regard is also untruth.
1. In the case of Brahman, the term 'pramattayog' does not apply because this defect does not exist in a state of apramatta (vigilance). That is why celibacy is said to be without exception. For special clarification, see the Gujarati essay titled 'Jain Drashtie Brahmacharya'.