First Steps to Jainism Part 1

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 82

68 First Steps to Jainism
Kahan Chare? Kahan Chitte? Kahan Ase? Kahan Saye? Kahan Bhujanto Bhasanto, Pavv Kamman na Bandhai.
How should one walk, stand, sit, sleep, eat and speak so the sinful karma bondage may not accrue (to the soul).
The answer given is :
Jayan Chare, Jayan Chithe, Jayan Ase, Jayan Saye, Jayan Bhujanto Bhasanto, Pavy Kamma na Bandhai.
With vigilance should one walk, stand, sit, sleep, eat and talk (thus) sinful karma bondage shall not accrue (to the soul).
32. Such a vigilant conduct avoids defilement of the soul by karmas or sins leading ultimately to freedom from bondage and salvation. Apart from the future life or the hereafter practice of non-violence makes for a better existence in this life itself. It can ensure peace between nature and man, between man and society or state and between state and state. All the conflicts are solved in non-violent conduct once its principles are put into practice at different levels.
33. Need for non-violence in the conduct of man and society or state is the greatest in the present times. Faced with the danger of ecological disaster and nuclear holocaust on the one hand, and unrestrained materialistic pursuit on the other, humanity is groping in the dark for a ray of light which can save its very existence. Such light is provided by shunning violence at all levels by practising non-violence. No wonder Lord Mahaveera called non-violence as Goddess - Ahimsa Bhagwati.
34. Self control (Sanyam)second hallmark- The Prakrit term in the shloka, with which this chapter opens, the equivalent of which in English has been adopted as self-control, is SANJAM the Sanskrit equivalent being SANYAM. This term has very wide and varied connotations. On the one hand, in day to day language, when any person becomes a Jain monk he is declared to have taken sanyam. Sanyam would then mean renouncement of the world and adoption of a life of monkhood with austerities, vows and other