Essence of Jainism

Author(s): Jyoti Prasad Jain
Publisher: Shuchita Publication Varanasi

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sexual relation with any body but one's own lawfully wedded spouse. And, the fifth vow is abstinence from acquiring and possessing worldly goods without a limit, in other words, it requires the imposition of a limit on one's needs, acquisitions and possessions and enjoins the use of the surplus for the common good. These are the partial or qualified vows, applicable only to the laity, the ascetics have to observe the vows absolutely and practise various internal and external austerities.
A Jain is expected to cultivate, as best as he or she can, the ten differential of Dharma, which are, forgiveness, humility, integrity, truthfulness, greedlessness, discipline, penance, renunciation, posessionlessness and continence.
The six necessary daily duties of a Jaina householder are devotional worship of the Deva (Jina), reverence to the Guru, study of holy books (shastra), practice of selfdiscipline, observance of fasts including the
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