Basic Jain Culture Non Possession

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

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of non-violence etc. This is just the effect of our beginningless volitions of attachment to adoption rather than abstinence whereas the religion of Jina is a religion of abstinence to move towards purification of soul. The Jinas have themselves renounced all.
It is stated in 'Niyama Sara' (Essence of Discipline), 56-602) that. (i) Desistence form volitions of violent activities toward the Jivas after
knowing about their family, birth place and class etc. is the first
vow of non-violence. (ii) Desistence always from volitions of speaking false on account of
attachment, aversion or delusion is called the second vow of truth. (ii) Desistence from volitions of picking up articles, left by others or
lying in village, town or forest is the third vow of non-stealing. (iv) Desistence from volitions of not desiring a woman by seeing her
beauty despite having desire for her or freedom from volitions of
copulation with women is the fourth vow of celibacy. (v) Desistance from volitions of desirelessness for possessing all kinds
of possessions is the fifth vow of non-possession.
In all these verses, the acharya has stated vow as desistence from sins in every case. However, we find now-a-days that'vow' is taken for adoption like, "Adopt this vow" and so on.
The word 'Grantha' (knot) is also taken in the sense of possession. They are called Nir-granthas (knotless, possessionless) who do not have any knots and renounce every knot. It is stated in 'Bhagvati Aradhana' that the term 'Grantha' derivatively means entities or volitions which create longer life in the world. They are the volitions of wrong faith, non-abstinence, passions and three kinds of activity.
The granthas or possessions are those internal and extemal volitions or activities which string us with world or create elongation of worldly life. The acharyas state the volitions of wrong faith, wrong knowledge, non-abstinence, passions, three-fold mental, vocal or bodily activities