$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

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

Page 242

RITUALS
D06- Paryushan and Das Lakshana Parva
06. Sanyam - Self-restraint
Self-restraint means disciplining mind, speech and body so as not to injure any living beings and exercising carefulness. Therefore, Self-restraint is of two types, restraining from inflicting injury to all the living beings and detachment from sensual objects.
In self-restraint, one takes away his attentive consciousness Upayoga from other objects and concentrates within himself. This is absolute definition of self-restraint. Other definition of selfrestraint is to accept five great vows, to control all passions like anger etc., to control the activities of mind, speech and body and to conquer the objects of five senses.
Complete self-restraint is possible only in human life. There is no self-restraint in heavenly or infernal life. In five-sensed animal life, there can be partial self-restraint.
One may argue that the senses are the reason that one obtains happiness but actually, control over the desires of sensual pleasures is the key of real happiness, as we all know that desires are endless. In fact, the soul's inherent nature is to be happy all the time. The pure inherent nature is independent of outside things like the senses. True happiness comes from within. The happiness comes from other transient in nature and are not real one but perceived one. Self-restraint is the increase of passionless state after obtaining the right faith.
07. Tapa Penance
The basic presents of penance are to control attachments and aversions. One stabilizes in his own pure state and gives up all the attachment and aversion, it is known as austerity. Control of desires are also known as austerity. There are six external austerities and six internal austerities that are practiced to eradicate Karma.
08. Tyäg - Renunciation
Renunciation of a possessive attitude for the necessities of life is called Tyäg. There are four types of charities described in the scriptures charity of food, knowledge, medicine and saving life of a being. Charity is the training for real renunciation of attachments and aversions (Vitaräga).
When one has attained the self-realization then he has no attachment of any internal or external substance's possessions. This is known as renunciation. He has no attachment and infatuation towards outside material substances like house, wife, kids, and wealth. He also does not have any internal possessions of any attachment or aversion. His soul is pure and devoid of any of these possessions.
09. Äkinchanya - Detachment
This attribute describes one to have the feeling of detachment with the thing one possesses. Not resorting to the attitude of ownership in relation to anything whatsoever is called Äkinchanya or absence of ownership. It refers to both internal and external possessions. External possessions are wealth, house, etc. Internal possessions are attachment, aversion and desire. To lack in internal possessions is the ultimate virtue. One who has given up internal possessions has definitely given up the external possessions too.
May be it is somewhat easy to give up external possessions but one may still keep the internal possessions towards that. For example, One has donated a lot to the society and still keeps on telling everybody, how much he donated. That means he physically gave up the substance but still has not given up the desire towards that substance.
10. Brahmacharya - Celibacy
Celibacy means continence to be observed by residing with a teacher, to observe the vows, to learn the scriptures and to erode the passions. We should consider this attribute three different ways:
From social point of view: The common social definition, control of sexual desires and conduct well known to all. For a householder, limited celibacy is preached with the concept of one partner only. From absolute point of view: It means to stay in the true nature of the soul. Once Right Faith is achieved, one can experience the nature of the pure soul. When one has Right Conduct and he is
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015