Basic Jain Culture Non Possession

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

Page 26

the dogmas. Hence, they do neither have any importance in identifying Jains from other dogmas, nor any of these qualities is capable in doing so. It is because every activity of Jains involves the concept of totality of non-possession. We can say that even the existence of Jains is based on non-possession as the word 'Jain' itself is derived from the word 'Jina'; whosoever follows 'Jina' (victor) is a Jain. Here, the term 'Victory' refers to winning over the alien and non-natural volitions like delusion, attachment and aversion etc., as these defiled modes are not only themselves 'possessions', but they are its origin also.
We have read the daily routine of laity and monks and have observed their primary activities. The idea of non-possession is there even in the characteristics of daily practices of equanimity etc. It means that one can practice equanimity until there is indifference towards the possessions of attachment etc. The equanimity is there only where withdrawal from possession and abidance in stainless self is there. Then and then only, the practice of equanimity is the cause of selfpurification. Until the Jiva is engaged in alienity, whether it is the activity of non-violence etc., it will result in karmic bondage as the qualities of non-violence etc. are alien-aspective, they depend on others. The volitions of self are the forms of non-possession, therefore, they do not result in karmic bondage. The non-violence etc, are socially oriented, while 'non-possession' is spiritual which is directly related to 'Jinas' and the 'Jains'.
All the twenty four ford-builders from Lord Rishabha to Mahavira and innumerable others acquiring state of enlightenment (ari-hanta) were non-possessed and, hence, they could attain perfection and salvation. There is not a single example which could prove salvation of the possessed person.
The two sects among the Jains-Digambaras (sky-clads) and Shvetambaras (white-clads) have their origin due to possession and non-possession. It seems that those, who professed alround and finer