Doctrines of Jainism

Author(s): Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi Godiji Jain Derasar Mumbai

Page 49

The Doctrines of the Jainas
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impiety is taking away what is not given. It is defined as an act of stealing, oppressing, bringing death and fear, a terrifying iniquity and a sinful deed rooted in covetousness and greed. The fourth door to impiety is known as incontinence. It is defined as a sexual dalliance coveted in the worlds of gods, men and demons, which is a net and noose of amour, which is a hindrance to the practice of austerities, self-restraint and chaste life. The fifth and last door to impiety is hankering after worldly possessions, such as, gems, jewels, gold, landed properties, opulence, wealth, etc. It is rooted in greed and it is an expression of craving and thirst for worldly things.
To compress all that is knowable about the following tenets of Jainism as a practical religion within the bounds of a few pages will be welcome:
(1) Longing for liberation (samvega): By it the soul obtains an intense desire of the law.
(2) Disregard of worldly objects (nivveda): By it the soul quickly feels disgust for pleasures enjoyed by gods, men and animals.
(3) Desire of the law (dhammasaddha): By it the soul becomes indifferent to pleasures.
(4) Obedience to co-religionists and to the Guru (gurusadhammiyasussusana): By obedience to them the soul obtains discipline.
(5) Confession of sins before the Guru (aloyana): By this the soul gets rid of the thorns of deceit, wrong belief, etc.
(6) Repenting for one's sins to oneself: By this the soul obtains repentance and becoming indifferent by