________________
48 First Steps to Jainism
and non-attachment say, the entire Jain ethics. It is synonymous with Right Conduct. It is the main hallmark of Jainism to be discussed in the next chapter. Without non-violence Jainism is like a body without the soul. It is also the main contribution of Jainism to humanity and living beings. It is manifested in the entire Indian continent in the form of vegetarian habit of eating of millions of people of all castes and all creeds, Jains or non-Jains, who never taste or think of tasting flesh, fish or even eggs. It is wider in scope than the first commandment "Thou shall not kill" and it is extension of the golden rule to all living beings.
62. To pierce, to bind, to over-load, to cause pain and to starve are five faults (atichar) pertaining to the vow of non-violence and have to be guarded against by the laity.
63. Second vow of Refrainment from falsehood or practising truthfulness (Satya vrata)-To deliberately or negligently transmit what is false or improper is untruthfulness. Refraining from such transmission is practising vow of truthfulness which on the positive side also requires refraining from truth which may cause affliction to others. To wholly adopt this vow is the major vow. The distinction of the wholesale adoption of vow or partly practising of the vow has been explained earlier in this chapter which will be applicable to all vows.
64. There are five transgressions (atichar) of this vow which are spreading false doctrine, backbiting, forgery, disclosing secrets and nonhonoring the promises. These are to be avoided by the laity.
65. Third vow-Refrainment from theft also known as vow of nonstealing (Asteya vrata)-To intentionally take what has not been given has been defined as theft by Vachak Umaswati and to refrain from such action is the third vow. On the positive side, it will extend to avoid taking or giving to some one else the property not belonging to oneself or belonging to another, placed, dropped, forgotten or deposited with one.
66. There are five possible infringements of this vow which
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
