Basic Principles Of Jainism

Author(s): Narayan Lal Kachhara
Publisher: Narayan Lal Kachhara

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therefore adhere to that ideal. Falsehood may sometimes land its author in prison or bring in disgrace and damage to property also.
Achaura (Non-stealing) Anuvrata
Umasvami defines stealing as taking what is not given (adattadanam steyam). Taking anything that is not given amounts to theft, if the activity is actuated by impure thought. Samantabhadra has given a comprehensive definition of what is not theft. The vow of abstinence from theft consists in not taking anything which is not given, whether such thing has been deposited underground, has been dropped by oversight or has been forgotten. In other words, the gross vow of non-stealing can be observed by desisting from taking away property which is not actually given by owner.
Amritchandra clearly says that theft also involves himsa as taking of property which is not given not only injures the purity of thought but also pains the person who is deprived of his property. Theft, if detected, may lead to punishment by imprisonment. In taking what belongs to another, there is pramatta-yoga or operation of activity aroused by some passion. The desire to possess some other's property without his consent or knowledge involves spiritual denigration of the self. A house holder should not take water from private wells unless the permission of the owner is taken. No such difficulty arises in the case of public wells and roads which are dedicated to the public for use. Somadeva adds that those who take the vow of non-stealing must not take anything belonging to others whether in a house or in the street or on water or in the woods or on the hills. Mines and hidden treasures belong to the State, though they may be of unknown ownership. This view is consistent with modern law in our country.
As in the case of other vows, there are five kinds of transgressions (aticharas) in the case of theft also. One may not himself commit theft but if he instigates another to commit theft or shows him the way of committing theft, then he is guilty of abetment of theft (chauraprayoga). Receiving stolen property is another kind of transgression (chaurarthadana). The third kind of transgression known as vilopa is when a person resorts to under-hand dealings for getting a thing in contravention of rules of control and restrictions which the state might have imposed. Adulteration (sadrsasammisra) is mixing of material of lower value with other material of higher value identical in colour or substance for sale with the motive of unlawful gain like mixing vegetable oil with ghee or fat with butter etc. The fifth kind of atichara refers to the use of false weights and measures (hinadhika vinimaya), as for example using heavier weight for purchasing articles from others and using lighter weights for sale of one's own commodities.
Brahmacharya (Celibacy) Anuvrata
The fourth vow is brahmacharya or celibacy. Samantabhadra has stated that the vow consists in desisting from having sexual contact with other women and from abetting others to have such contact, for fear of incurring sin. A person ought to be content with the woman whom he has married in the presence of his preceptor and others. He should have no sexual desire or
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