________________
32
HERITAGE OF LORD MAHAVIRA The principle of Self-preservation within the reasona
ble limits of moral fairness is clearly The Principle of directly formulated in the Jaina Scrip
Self-preser- tures. In critical situations, they vation recommend it even at the cost of
renunciation or Samyama, the practice of Self-Continence :
सव्वत्थ संजमं, संजमाओ अप्पाणमेव रक्खिज्जा । मुच्चइ भइवायाओ पुणो विसोही न याविरई ॥ संजमहेउ देहो धारिजइ सो कओ उ तदभावे । संजमफाइनिमित्तं देहपरिपालना इट्ठा ।।
(Oghaniryukti, Stanzas 47-48) “Before all, one should guard the vow of Selfcontinence; but even at the cost of Self-continence, one should guard one's Self. For, one can get rid again of the sin of transgression, which is not religious licentiousness in any case, if one atones for it afterwards.
“The body is the instrument of Self-continence. How could a man exercise self-continence without the help of his body? It is, therefore, desirable to protect one's body even in the interests of Samyama or Continence."
Thus even the rules laid down for monks indicate the important bearings of this principle of Self-preservation, for the above two stanzas refer expressly to monastic conduct. The monk, it is true, is supposed to fast and
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
