Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 73

APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
is impossible to be practised. Essentially aparigraha is a form of social expression of non-violence, and would also include non
stealing and chastity in its ambit. Aparigraha in Indian classical texts
Aparigraha as a preceptor vow finds occurrence in Brahmanical texts. In Baudhāyana Dharma Sūtras, it means abstention from taking possessions or refusal to master or overpower. The sūtras speak of the five vows of a samnyásina and aparigraha is one of them.' It occurs in Manusmrti, where Manu says that a saṁnyasin should establish himself in non-possession, live in a secluded place and observe the vow of silence.In Mahābhārata also, non-possession is considered a quality of a recluse. Vaikhānasa Dharınapraśna includes aparigraha as one of the essential duties of a recluse. In some of the later Upanisads such as Paramahamsa Upanisad the term aparigraha is available showing that this is a necessary quality of a recluse. At once place in one of the later Upanisadsit is said that no sarnyasinis supposed to show any attachment to gold; he should not even see it since that may arouse in him a greed for this substance.
These instances show that for the life of a recluse, aparigrahais almost mandatory. They do not, however, establish that alay person or a householder is also required to practise aparigraha or limitation of desires for his ethical development, which is spelled out in the Jaina scriptures and which is the main subject of this study at present. The purpose of mentioning this is just to show that aparigraha has significant place in the Brahmanical literature.
Taking the historical sequence of Rgveda, Brāhmaṇas etc. one may notice the conspicuous absence of this precept of aparigraha because their main emphasis is on the life of a householder and not on a recluse and, therefore, all possessions are understood as valuable and
1. Baudhayana Dharma Sūtras- 2. 2. Manusmrti - 6. 3. Mahābhārata - Sāntiparva.