Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

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The first great vow of the Jains is abstinence from life-slaughter. The second great vow is the avoidance of falsehood. The third great vow is the avoidance of theft. The next great vow is the avoidance of sensual pleasures and the last great vow is the freedom from possessions. These great moral vows of the Jains are also found in Buddhism.
MEANS OF SELF-CONTROL
There are five Samitis and three Guptis in Jainism which constitute the eight means of selfcontrol. They are also known as eight articles of Jain creed. The Samitis are the following: (1) Going by paths trodden by men, carts etc and looking carefully so as not to caus death to living beings; (2) Using sweet, gentle and righteous speech; (3) receiving alms in a manner to avoid 42 faults; (4) receiving and keeping things necessary for religious exercises; and (5) performing the operation of nature in an unfrequented place.
Gupti means protection, defence, guard watchfulness. There are three guptis in Jainism; (1) preventing mind from sensual pleasure by engaging it in contemplation, study, etc; (2) preventing the tongue from saying bad things by taking the vow of silence; and (3) putting the body in an immovable posture.