$JES 401 Jain Philosophy and Practice 2 Level 4 Book

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

Page 55

04. Brahmacharya Anu-vrata (Celibacy)
मूलमेअमहम्मस्स, महादोससमुस्सयम् तम्हा मेहुणसंसग्गिं निग्गंथा वज्जयंति णं
दसवैकालिक सूत्र Mulameyamahammassa Mahädosasamussayam Tamhä Mehunasansaggam Nigganthä Vajjayanti Nam
... - - Dash Vaikälika Sutra Being the root cause of sins and abode of major faults
The sensuous contacts are abandoned by saints. It is also known as Svadärä Santosh and Para-stree Gaman Viraman-vrata. The term Brahmacharya has spiritual as well as physical connotations. Spiritually it is defined as "Brahmani Charyate Iti Brahmacharya". Brahman means consciousness or soul, Brahmani means within soul and Charyate means staying. So Brahmacharya literally means staying or dwelling in soul. Therefore, when one remains fully aware of his pure consciousness and stays aloof of all physical as well as mental involvement for pleasure, he can be said to be observing Brahmacharya. Equanimity being the principal property of consciousness, the spiritual Brahmacharya also denotes maintaining equanimity by being free from attachments and aversion.
In physical sense, Brahmacharya means celibacy or averting of sensual activities. Its observance is essential for attaining the state of spiritual Brahmacharya. Thus, physical Brahmacharya is a prerequisite for spiritual Brahmacharya. On the other hand, when one dwells in soul or self, he gets rid of all attachment. Such detached person cannot indulge in sensual activity that necessarily needs attachment. Physical celibacy is thus the cause as well as the effect of spiritual Brahmacharya. People observing celibacy is always held in high esteem in the spiritual society. This vow consists in desisting from having sensuous relationship with the opposite gender and from abetting others to have such contact. A person ought to be content with a spouse whom he/she has married and he should have no sensuous desire with others. All Jain philosophers have been unanimous in condemning a breach of the vow of celibacy as leading to the commission of various kinds of sins. It is also a sin against society as it disturbs the code of common ethics so essential for peace in domestic life and mutual trust. By committing adultery, a man or woman involves himself or herself in various kinds of deceitful acts, which result in the destruction of all other virtues. Knowing or being convinced of the usefulness of the restriction that placed upon him, Shrävak could help himself to keep the vow by paying attention to the following points. They may be called hedges to keep oneself away from self-injury in the direction of sensuous passion.
Try not to indulge in lustful stories, conversations, or talks about other gender One should not look with a lustful eye or in the spirit of lust on a woman / men's body, which are factors in arousing the passion. One should not listen to the private conversation of a couple. One should not bring to mind the sensuous enjoyment one had in the past. One should avoid taking foods that are exciting, intoxicating, or stimulating, especially things that are very oily, or contain too much fat, because they produce passion.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2
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