Jain Digest 2004 04 Vol 23 No 2

SR No.: 527092
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 8 MB

Page 18

theft, smuggling, adulteration, cheating etc. They should also not enter into any sort of deal with those, who indulge in such activities.
Jain tradition specifies the following five activities as transgressions of this restraint, viz. i) buying, procuring or storing stolen, smuggled or otherwise illicitly acquired articles, ii) supporting or otherwise encouraging stealing, burglary, smuggling etc. iii) adulteration of goods, iv) procuring anything by breach of regulation and v) using inaccurate weights and measures. Other evils like tax evasion, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, draft dodging etc. were not conceived of when these transgressions were framed and are therefore not specified. Such activities are, however, covered therein, because the purpose of this restraint is to see that no one should even try to gain something that is not legitimately permissible. Cheating and deceiving also are transgressions of this restraint and are covered in the third and fifth types respectively.
Deception happens to be covered in the second restraint and may therefore seem to be overlapping. The term has, however, two aspects. A person can indulge in deception either by deceitful words or by undertaking some deceptive activity. The former is generally
covered under the second restraint and the latter under the third restraint. For instance, preparing a fake passport or visa constitutes a transgression of the second restraint, while bringing an illegal immigrant in the country is covered by the third. Similarly, overinvoicing or under-invoicing falls within the purview of second restraint, while short shipment would come in the purview of the third.
Legitimacy of gaining and using something has also a subtler aspect. Mahatma Gandhi had stipulated that one, who eats or consumes anything without putting in effort, is a stealer. He had therefore resorted to spinning, as soon as he terminated his fast even during his last days. Jainism puts this very aspect in a different perspective. From the spiritual point of view the main purpose of human life is to get rid of the bondage of Karma so as to achieve liberation. The major step in this direction is to get rid of the ignorance about the Self. Jain seers have therefore laid down that not to use one's energy for gaining self-realization also amounts to transgression of this restraint.
BRAHMACHARYA, THE CELIBACY
consciousness, spiritual Brahmacharya also denotes maintaining Mulameyamahammassa Mahädosasamussayam
equanimity and remaining free from attachment as well as from Tamhä Mehunasansaggam Niggantha Vajjayanti Nam all sorts of craving and aversion.
Dashvaikälik Sutra
In physical terms, Brahmacharya denotes averting the sensual Sensuous contact is the root cause of sins and abode of major
activities. Its observance is essential for attaining the state of spiritual faults; monks therefore stay away from that.
Brahmacharya. Physical Brahmacharya is thus a prerequisite for spiritual Brahmacharya. On the other hand, when one dwells
within the soul, he stays away from attachment. Such a detached In the last three chapters, we have dealt with three restraints person cannot indulge in sensual activity. Physical celibacy thus of nonviolence, truth and non-stealing. Now we are taking up the happens to be the cause as well as the effect of spiritual fourth one known as celibacy or Brahmacharya. That term has a Brahmacharya. No wonder, that celibacy has been accepted as an spiritual as well as physical connotation. Spiritually, it is defined as ideal and is considered highly virtuous in India and other spiritually Brahmani Charyate Iti Brahmacharya. Brahman means oriented countries. The people observing celibacy are therefore held consciousness or soul, Brahmani means within the soul and in high esteem in those societies. Charyate means staying. Brahmacharya therefore literally means This emphasis on celibacy may appear a bit strange to the staying or dwelling within the soul. As such, when one remains western world where sex is increasingly acknowledged as a fully aware of his pure consciousness and stays aloof of the physical permissive activity. Sex was, however, not invariably considered a as well as the mental involvement, he can be said to be observing taboo in ancient India. Most of the great sages of that time used to Brahmacharya. Equanimity being the principal property of lead married life. Food, sleep, possession and sex were admitted as
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