First Steps to Jainism Part 1

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

Page 84

70 First Steps to Jainism
38. Greater light on the Jain concept of self-control is thrown by its numerous divisions and sub-divisions, which is the standard Jain method of scrutiny. Before this it needs mention that the analysis of word sanyam is SAM i.e. samyak which means judicious or right-YAM which means regulation or control. Thus sanyam means right regulation or judicious control (over one-self).
39. At first we find two divisions of Sanyam or control viz.. control of senses (indriya sanyam) and control towards living beings (pran sanyam). This means one should control the five senses and also abjure violence towards all kinds of living beings.
40. Elsewhere we find four-fold divisions of sanyam (I) control of mind, (ii) control of speech, (iii) control of body and (iv) control of equipment.
41. There are two sets of seventeen divisions of self-control which are commonly accepted and which throw light on the vast scope of self-control or sanyam in Jain thought. These are tabulated below:
(a) First set of seventeen divisions of self-control
Restraint in relation to five types of static being
Restraint in relation to four types of mobile beings
(i) Not to hurt-earth beings.
Not to hurt-water beings. (iii) Not to hurt-fire beings. (iv) Not to hurt-air beings. (v) Not to hurt-vegetable beings. (vi) Not to hurt-two sensed beings. (vii). Not to hurt-three sensed beings. (viii) Not to hurt-four sensed beings. (ix) Not to hurt-five sensed beings. (x) Avoiding nonliving things which are valuable
-avoid attraction towards them. (xi) Be careful in sitting, waking, sleeping etc (xii) Indifference towards worldly activity. (xiii) Careful disposal of excreta. (xiv) Careful maintenance of clothes & equipment. (xv). Control over mind.