Basic Jain Culture Non Possession

Author(s): Padamchand Shastri, N L Jain
Publisher: Veer Seva Mandir Trust

Page 17

pride, deceit and greed which do not obstruct or restrain the observance of conduct despite afflictions and inflictions. The scriptures have stated them as line-on-water-like, bamboo
like, weeding-hook-like and turmeric-like. Besides these passions, the nine quasi-passions of (1) laughter, (2) liking, (3) disliking, (4) sorrow, (5) fear, (6) disgust (towards religion and the religious ones), (7) feminine libido, (8) masculine libido and (9) neuter libido-are also the roots of sin.
The four non-religious tales related with (1) women, (2) foods, (3) nations and (4) kings-are also included in possession. The attachment and aversion in favourable and unfavourable objects of senses like touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing are also a kind of possession. The external materials like the grains and riches are also possessions.
Thus, the individual gets engaged in sins in the presence of any of the causes of possession described above. This way, the Jain culture is prominently based on non-possession. It should also be understood that it is also the basis of other vows.
There is one more thing to be noted. For those individuals, who knowingly or unknowingly, get involved in violence, falsity, stealing and illicit sex, can be proudly called as non-violent, truth-speaking, non-stealing and celibate. But nobody can declare himself as nonpossessed in the presence of even small quantity of possessional sin. Here, we have to add the term 'Quantity'. For example, (1) A votary is called minor non-violent even getting involved in
domestic, professional and opposition violence. (ü) A votary is called minorly truth-speaking even when he speaks
untruth to save one from heavy penalty. (ii) One is called observer of the vow of non-stealing even when he
renounces stealth partially. (iv) One is called celibate (minor vows) even when he incurs the sin of