Aspects of Jaina Religion

Author(s): Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 96

92 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
(ii) Asatya is hiṁsā: Wherever any wrong statement is made through pramāda-yoga, it is certainly known as asatya, i.e., falsehood. It is, therefore, clear that as pramāda-yoga, the chief cause of hissä, is present in all such statements, hirsā occurs in asatya, i.e., falsehood, also.
(iii) Chaurya is himsā: The taking, by pramāda-yoga of objects which have not been given, is deemed as theft and that is hiṁsā because it is the cause of injury to the self in the form of a moral fall and to the person deprived of. There is no difference between hiṁsā and theft. Hiṁsā is inherent in theft, for in taking what belongs to another, there is pramādayoga. Thus all theft, like all falsehood, is included in himsā.
(iv) Abrahma is hissä: Indulgence in sex passion always brings about himsā because it originates out of desire. Hence abrahma or sexual impurity is a form of himsā.
(v) Parigraha is himsā: Parigraha or possession of worldly goods is of two kinds, internal and external. The renunciation of parigraha of both the kinds is ahiṁsā and their appropriation is hiṁsā. Internal parigraha, that is, the desire for worldly objects, prejudicially affects the purity of the soul, and this injury to the pure nature of the soul constitutes himsā. External parigraha, that is, the actual possession of worldly. objects, creates attraction and love for them, and defiles purity of the soul and therefore amounts to himsā.
Thus it is evident that as himsā is implied in falsehood, theft, sexual impurity and possession of goods, all the main five vows of Jainism are based on the principle of ahimsā. That is why supreme importance is given to the principle of ahimsā and it is enjoined upon every Jaina to avoid himsā under all conditions.
4. Easy Practicability of Ethical Code
The fourth distinct feature of Jaina ethics is its simple practicability. It is clear that Jaina ethics lays down very elaborate rules of conduct both for laymen and ascetics. As prescribed rules of conduct are described in minutest details,