Book Title: Early Jainism
Author(s): K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 68
________________ Acaranga 11 III. The Problem of Employment of Speech This rather curious problem is conspicuous by its absence in the old Chedasutras Kalpa, Vyavahara and Niśitha; on the other hand, it is present In an essentially similar fashion in Daśavaikālika chapter VII and Acaranga II, chapter 1, section 4. So many things said in this connection are obscure in their import but the general drift of the whole discussion is pretty clear. The following points easy to follow-are made first : (1) One must not speak untruths and half-truths (775); (2) One must not speak such truths as cause pain to others (775); (3) One must call others by not abusive but endearing names (776 777). 59 Then there follows a series of injunctions apparently aimed at avoidIng such forms of speech as seem to condone violence. For example, an animal become first to be slaughtered or milked or yoked is not to be described this way (788, 90); what one has to say is that this animal is now full-grown (789, 791). Similarly, a tree become fit to yield wood for furniture is not to be described this way; what one has to say is that this tree is now full-grown (792-93). Lastly, a fruit become fit to be eaten up or a vegetable become fit to be cooked is not to be described this way (794, 796); what one has to say is that this fruit or this vegetable is now full-grown (785, 797). As can be seen, the most important problems of monastic discipline are considered by Acaranga II in its chapter 1; similar problems, though of a secondary importance, are considered by it in its chapter 2. This chapter is divided into 7 sections, but of these the first two very briefly touch upon an aspect of the problem of procuring shelter-the first saying things about the procurement of a place for bodily posturing, the second about the procurement of a place for study. Nothing particularly noteworthy comes to view in these two sections. But the remaining five sections take up three problems that are of some importance, here section 3 standing alone, sections 4 and 5 going together and sections 6 and 7 again going together. Thus section 3 takes up the problem of a proper disposal of urine and excreta, a problem much considered in Jaina monastic circles; (it is interesting to recall that the famous Jaina doctrine of 5 samitis, in one of Its items, has to do with this very problem). The injunctions and prohib itions laid down in this connection are primarily aimed at assuring that the disposal of urine and excreta involves no infliction of injury on the living beings - also that it is performed at no public place. Almost all Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120