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When will that auspicious day come in my life, when I can take this vow to restrict the number of towels, napkins, garments, tooth brushes, oils, lotions, pastes, cosmetics, ornaments, incenses, beverages, sweets, variety of grains, ghee, oil, milk, curds, green vegetables, fruits, number of items in diet, flowers, quantity of water, etc?
I also desire that I be able to restrict the number of vehicles, footwear, beds, mattresses, animate things such as fruits with seeds, unboiled water, etc.
There are fifteen specified trades, which should be known and avoided. They are:
Trades in which furnaces are used Trades in which trees are cut Trades in fermented goods, such as liquor are used Trades in earning by way of renting animals, birds, etc. Trades involving excavations and explosions Trades in ivory, bones, horns, fur, etc. Trades in manufacturing or the processes concerned with crushing Trades in lard, honey, meat, fat, etc. Trades in sealing wax, etc. Trades in poisonous and toxic substances, such as opium, and pesticides Trades in which animals, birds, fish, etc. are tortured or killed Trades in which animals, birds, etc. are amputated, Trades in which fires are set in forests, fields, etc. Trades in which lakes, wells, ponds, etc. are dried up Trades in which wicked men, prostitutes, or call girls are supported.
If I have indulged in any of the above fifteen specified trades, then may all my such sins be dissolved. TASSA MICHCHHAMI DUKKADAM. (I seek forgiveness for all of it.)
The Jain scriptures resound with insightful information. The ones chosen here merely indicate the body of the literature and texts. Please explore them on your own providing your thoughts and interpretations as well.
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