Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thaought

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 42

Sila and its Allied Problems
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ness. These vows cannot, however, be called pure cāritra, because they also carry with them certain pollutions; they can only be called incomplete partial caritra, or câritra in so far as they make a person free from attachment and hatred (rāga and dveșa), and non-cāritra in so far as they are polluted.
These vows or precepts mainly take two forms in Jaina system in accordance with the mental and spiritual maturity of the individuals. The higher course meant for the monks is called the mahāvrata where no room is given for the smallest kind of violence, untruth, etc., and it is taken for the whole life. The monk by adopting the higher course tries his best to give up all attachment and hatred. The lower course meant for the general householder called the 'aņuvrata' or deśa-virati (partial abstentions) enjoins him to abstain from major (not minor or that which is unavoidable) violence, untruth, etc. The householder stands on a lower spiritual platform than the monks. The observance of these aņuvratas is also a branch of sāmāyika cāritra because it is presupplemented by right attitude, and also an endeavour for the establishment in samatā.
Not only this, even in these separate codes of monks and the laity differences in practices are noticed, which can be attribued to the differences in social set up and other circumstances and also differences in the mental and spiritual maturity of different persons. The account of sarva-virati and desa-virati (mahāvrata and aņuvrata) thus can be discussed under the head of sāmāyika cāritra. Detailed accounts of all these vratas or vows will be discussed in the subsequent chapters. So far as the sāmāyika cãritra is concerned, it is the first and most important in the fivefold scheme of samyak-cāritra.
(2) Chedopasthāpana caritra : When the novice proves true, within a certain period of initiation, called laghu dikşā (partial initiation) usually, he is promoted to the next step called badidiksã full initiation). This promotion is called chedo