Book Title: Atmatatva Vichar Or Philosophy Of Soul
Author(s): Vijaylakshmansuri, Ghanshyam Joshi, Kirtivijay Gani
Publisher: Mohanlal D Mehta

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Page 545
________________ 522 PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL Third Vow : NOT ACCEPTING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN (in general) Accepting what is not given is theft. This vow is accepted in the following manner : 1. One should not break through a house or a shop. 2. One should not take out anything from anyone's bag after unlocking it. 3. One should not commit depradation. 4. One should not possess a thing owned by others. One should not keep stolen property and should not act in the manner which would aid and abet a thief. Keeping stolen property or to aid and abet a thief amount to committing theft ; so one who accepts this vow has to avoid these acts. Fourth Vow : REFRAINING FROM SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IN GENERAL This vow is also introduced as "Own-wife-satisfaction" vow. Wife is that woman who is accepted in the presence of five men of repute. To rest contented with wife means not to entertain illicit intention for other elderly ladies and to respect them as sisters, In this vow, maidens, widows and concubines are not specifically avoided for access; so comparatively this vow restricting oneself to one's own wife is very magnificent. Shri Hemachandracharya declares, one who is contented with one's own wife, devoid of passions for worldly objects resembles a monk in character though a house-holder. This vow is very popular for its great esteem hence we refrain from further elucidation on the subject. Fifth Vow: LIMITING POSSESSIONS Maintaining wealth, corns, farms, buildings, gold, silver, furniture, attendants, cattles etc. for one's personal use is "Possession" (parigraha). One should limit one's possessions. Authors of the scriptures say, “Just as a vessel overloaded with cargo sinks in the ocean, human being overloaded with attachments for various possessions sink in the worldly ocean. So one must possess only enough for necessity and not more. Men commit numerous sins for such possessions. Sins are committed fewer on limiting possessions and virtue of contentment is developed.

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