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CONDUCT
C06 - Panchächär: Five Codes of Conduct
The worldly soul has been ignorant about its true nature and has been associated with karmas. Consequently, it has been entangled in an unending cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.
It can, however, be liberated from that cycle by removing its ignorance about its true nature and its Kashaya (anger, greed, ego, and deceit) which can eradicate all of its Karmas. This is known as Nirjarä. It is of two types. Simply bearing the consequences of old Karmas is Akäm Nirjara. Most of the time, the person happens to react to the given situation with more emotion. Such Nirjarä leads to acquisition of new Karmas and cannot lead to liberation. Sakäm Nirjarä does not lead to new Karmas. One of the ways to achieve such Nirjara is to resort to austerities. Sakäm Nirjarä should be performed by remaining neutral, so that one can avoid gaining more karmas. In order to avoid misconception of what austerities are, Jainism has laid down the concept of Tapa in great detail. Austerities have been actually conceived as physical and mental exercises that can be helpful for achieving Nirjarä. The physical exercises are external or Bähya Tapa and mental ones are internal or Abhyantar Tapa. Since internal austerities are concerned with inner aspects, it will be evident that they are meant for spiritual development. External austerities, on the other hand, are useful only to the extent they are helpful in undertaking internal ones. Both these categories of Tapa are divided into six subcategories each. Thus, there are twelve types of Tapa. Bähya Tapa (External Austerities):
Anasan-Moonoariya Vitti-Sankhevanam Rasachchäo Käya-Kileso Sanlinaya Ya Bajzo Tavo Hoy
-Panchächär Sutra Fasting, eating less, curtailing desires, avoiding tastes, facing physical hardships, and
occupying restricted space are the external austerities. 1 Anashan (Fasting): Ashan means to eat and Anashan means not to eat (fasting.) Such fasting is usually known as Upaväs. Upaväs means staying close to the soul. When a person stays tuned to the nature of soul, they may not remember the physical body or other physical needs like hunger. So refraining from food can be a consequence of Upaväs, but is not the essential part of Upavas. Anashan, therefore, is the physical act of refraining from food, and Upavas describes the mental focus on the soul. 2 Unoariä or Unodari (Eating less): This means eating less than what is needed for satisfying appetite or hunger. This austerity has a health consideration as well. Recent research has shown that eating in moderation is good for health and can even increase longevity. It also prepares the body and mind for meditation. 3 Vitti-Sankhevanam or Vritti-sankshepa (Curtailing desires): This means adding further restrictions. Human beings have the tendency to acquire as many things as possible to satisfy current or future needs. However, we all know that possession of many things does not necessarily make one happy. Happiness is a function of mind and can be attained only by contentment. By observing this austerity, one can learn to stay content with minimum requirements. One meaning of this austerity is to restrict the number of food items per. 4 Rasachchäo or Rasatyäg (Avoiding tastes): This means giving up the attachment for tastes. Often, we are too busy trying to fulfill our cravings and lose self-discipline. We become slaves to our hunger and appetites. Ways to practice this austerity include Ayambil Vrata, where one eats only once a day and commits to eating foods that do not contain salt or other spices. Another way to practice this vow is to give up a favorite food. 5 Käya-Kileso or kaya-Klesha (Facing physical hardships):
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
