Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 79

This is the negative side of 'Non-Violence', but reverence for life is the positive side: to love all living beings, visible or invisible, mobile or immobile, covering every form of life, whether it be a clod of earth or a drop of water, reverence for life whatever or wherever it is, from the lowest form to the highest form. Regards every Soul equal to his own, treats and loves the whole cosmos with motherly tenderness. Destroying, hurting, damaging or obstruction in any manner, even in dream is violence.
ĀTMĀ
To observe the maximum possible reverence for life is possible only if Samyam-complete renunciation is accepted, that is to become 'Jaina Monk Nun' (Sramaṇa/Sramani) which is the 6th and 7th stage of purification. II. B) Samyama: At the time of initiation the Sramana Takes: (BI) Five Great Vows (Mahāvrata), briefly they are:
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The Self....
(1) To abstain from violence-non-injury to all living beings, visible or invisible, mobile or immobile.
(2) To abstain from speaking untruth.
(3) To abstain from taking anything (even a single piece of straw) without the owner's permission.
(4) To abstain from sex-passion. The sex-passion implies materialistic pleasures of all the five senses, and also absolute celibacy.
(5) To abstain from possession or acquisition and in addition (6th) - To abstain from 'Nocturnal Meals'. No food or water to be taken from 48 minutes before sun-set until 48 minutes after sun-rise.
It is implicit not to breach any of the vows by i) thought, ii) speech and iii) deed either by iv) do it himself, and/or v) get it done by others and/or vi) approving or appreciating others breaching it.
B2) Five Samitis: Watchfulness while - 1) Walking, 2) Speaking, 3) Soliciting Food - 'Bhiksa', 4) Lifting or putting down things, and 5) Disposals of body-wastes.