Book Title: Faith Knowledge and Conduct
Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

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Page 122
________________ THE LIFE 109 (12) Service (especially of saints) and the giving of gifts of food, medicine, knowledge and fearlessness (protection). The householder endeavours to perfect himself in the observance of the above vows during his life. If successful, he will pass out into sannyāsa (the Higher Path) before the commencement of old age. The last or the death-bed vow, so to speak, concerns the proper method of dying. When death dors come (not before) the householder should resolve to die with the utmost degree of calmness and tranquillity, remembering his high Ideal and the nature of the Soul. During life the layman pursues some honourable occupation as a means of livelihood, engaging himself in study, charity and self-control, and worshipping (idealising) and following the Divinity (as manifested in deified perfect man), the saintly Preceptor and the Word of (the spiritual) Law! The above is very briefly the description of the householder's life. The saint also observes certain rules which are as follows:-- (145) The first five vows of the householder, but characterized by absolute severity. He will not even cook his food himself; he will not utter untruth and unpleasant speech under Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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