$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 24

JAIN LAITY OR HOUSEHOLDERS (SHRÄVAKAS AND SHRÄVIKÄS) Four Disciplinary Vows (Shikshä-vratas): 09 Sämäyika Vrata
- Meditation vow of limited duration 10 Desävakäsika Vrata
- Activity vow of limiting space 11 Paushadha Vrata
- Ascetic's life vow of limited duration 12 Atithi Samvibhäg Vrata - Charity vow
Five Main Vows of Limited Nature (Anuvratas)
1. Non-violence Limited Vow (Ahinsä Anuvrata)
In this vow, a person must not intentionally hurt any living being (plants, animals, human etc.) or their feelings either by thought, word or deed by himself or through others, or by approving such an act committed by somebody else. Intention in this case applies to selfish motives, sheer pleasure, and even avoidable negligence.
A person may use force, if necessary, in the defense of his country, society, family, life, property, and religious institute. His agricultural, industrial, occupational living activities do also involve injury to life, but it should be as minimum as possible, through being careful and using due precaution.
In Jain scripture the nature of violence is classified in four categories: Premeditated Violence:
To attack someone knowingly Defensive Violence:
To commit intentional violence in defense of one's own life Vocational Violence:
To incur violence in the execution of one's means of livelihood Common Violence:
To commit violence towards one sense living beings such as plants in the performance of daily activities
Premeditated violence is totally prohibited for all. A householder may not have a choice but to incur violence defensively and vocationally provided he maintains complete detachment. Common violence may be unavoidable for survival, but even here, one should minimize violence in all daily activities such as in preparing food, cleaning house, etc. This explains the Jain's practices of filtering drinking water, vegetarianism, not eating meals at night, and abstinence from alcohol. Nonviolence is the foundation of Jain ethics.
Lord Mahävir says:
'One should not injure, subjugate, enslave, torture or kill any living being including animals, insects, plants, and vegetation.'
This is the essence of religion. It embraces the welfare of all living beings including animals, insects, vegetation ect. It is the basis of all stages of knowledge and the source of all rules of conduct.
24
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I