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HERITAGE OF LORD MAHAVIRA : through the Five Great Vows of the monks, namely Noninjury, Truthfulness, Non-stealing, Celebacy and Nonpossession, forms also the summit of the vows concerning the principle of Self-Continence.
However, the object remains the same. It is only the perspective that has changed. The principle of Nonviolence imposed the duty of avoiding actions that were potentially capable of harming others. To this is now added the further obligation of abstaining from actions which are likely to disturb one's own equanimity and peace of mind. For such actions may well hamper one in that religious activity which is so essential for one's real welfare. Thus the principle of Samyama or Self-Continence evidently stands in the foreground of all religious advancement. While it absolutely prohibits to the monks heavy food, excessive sleep, sexual intercourse, use of vicious drugs and all intoxicating substances, it enjoins. the laymen to give up some of these partially and some totally. In this context, the Scriptures command explicitly never to give way to any of the four fundamental passions-Anger, Pride, Deceit and Covetousness. These, with many other regulations, fall under the principle of Continence, even though, ultimately, they are rooted in Non-violence or Ahimsa. And the last of these, Covetousness, includes, besides avarice, all kinds of attachment to property, to lifeless as well as living things.
There is also another favourable approach to the attainment of one's spiritual well-being. In fullest accord. with the laws of ethics, it is very closely akin to, and
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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