Aspects of Jaina Religion

Author(s): Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 91

CHAPTER VI Distinctiveness of Jaina Ethics
1. Gradation in Ethical Code
The examination of an outline of Jaina ethics does make clear its certain outstanding features. In the first place it is evident that there is a system of gradation in Jaina ethics because the whole course of Jaina ethics has been divided into stages and it is enjoined on every person to put into practice the rules of conduct step by step. The whole life of an individual, in some of the later works, has been divided into four Aśramas, i.e., stages, namely, (i) Brahmacharya, the period of study, (ii) Grhastha, the period devoted to household life, civic duties, and the like, (iii) Vānaprastha, the period of retirement from worldly activities, and (iv) Samnyāsa, the period of absolute renunciation. (1) Brahmacharya Āśrama
The first is the stage of study when the pupil must acquire knowledge, religious as well as secular, and build up a character that will rule supreme in later life. In this period he is to for the right convictions regarding the real nature of the soul and the world.
(2) Gșhastha Aśrama
After completing his studies he enters the second stage. He is expected to marry and settle down to lead a pious householder's life. In this stage he tries to realise the first three of the four ideals or objectives in life, namely, dharma (religious merit), artha (wealth, position, worldly prosperity, etc.), kāma (pleasure) and moksa (salvation). But it has been specifically stressed that while realising dharma, artha and