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The Vow of Truth
Priyank Shah
The five main vows of Jainism are very important in that they help us in following our religion. These include: Ahimsa (non-violence), Brahmacharya (celibacy), Aparigraha (nonpossessiveness), Asteya (non-stealing), and Satya (truth). While it is easy to say that the meaning of these vows are absolute, putting them into practice in our everyday lives is a much harder task. While Brahmacharya and Asteya appear to be clear-cut issues, Ahimsa, Aparigraha and Satya tend to cause confusion.
half full” describes truth on both sides, but the perceptions are different. The term Satya Anuvrat can thus be considered another facet of the concept of Ahimsa because "the truth hurts." There are five transgressions to the partial vow of truth. They are 1) misleading precepts, 2) revealing confidential, personal statements, 3) exposing other's intentions, 4) spreading rumors and gossip, and 5) acquiring other's possessions by betraying their trust. This vow of truth gives a person the freedom of saying the right thing and refraining from exposing lies. A person may lie to protect a friend or relative. In the end, though, both culprits suffer the consequences. All of this lying causes a person to gain more and more bad karma. The five vows are interrelated and how you behave with one affects the other. Jains and all people who follow these vows can learn to lessen bad karma by accepting numerous viewpoints.
The vow of Satya demands that a person abstain from lying in any form. Truth is a resolution taken to avoid falsehood and deception. We can argue that there are absolute truths, but even to these there are many perceptions. This vow is the concept of Syadvad which means the partial truth or truth relative to various viewpoints. For example, the everpopular phrase "a glass which is half empty or
JAI JINENDRA
With Best Compliments To
THE JAIN CENTER OF GREATER ST. LOUIS
WITH BEST WISHES TO OUR TEMPLE
THE JAIN CENTER OF GREATER ST. LOUIS
On The Occasion Of PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV
THE SHAH FAMILY:
KEVAL PRIYANK SHAILESH
Ramanbhai, Laxmiben, Hitesh, Shilpa, Yogesh
Patel
&
KALPNA
Jain Education Interational
26 For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 528531 |
| Book Title | Jain Center ST Louis 1999 05 Pratistha |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jain Center St Louis |
| Publisher | USA Jain Center St Louis MO |
| Publication Year | 1999 |
| Total Pages | 40 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center MO St Louis, & USA |
| File Size | 4 MB |