Fundamental of Jainism

Author(s): Prithviraj Jain
Publisher: Prithviraj Jain

Page 16

must willingly subject itself to a series of practical disciplines, rules of conduct and various internal and external penances. The stages of spiritual development, about 14 in number, are called technically gunasthanas.
The Jain Tirthankaras were aware of human weaknesses. They knew that the path of renunciation is not easy for all to follow. Hence they preached and propagated two sets of rules of conduct-one for monks and the other for householders. It is repeatedly stressed that both sets of rules are Uhrma, or the Virtuous Path. The path of the householders does not lead to sin.
The Jain monks and nuns are required to practise the five great vows in their perfect and highest possible forms: Non-injury, Truthfulness, Nonstealing, Celibacy and Non-attachment to worldly objects. Their life is one of complete selfhelp. They are not to be a burden on society in any way. They always travel on foot, wear the fewest possible clothes (some even discard clothing altogether), have no house or property of their own and are expected to know many languages for the purpose of propagating the message of peace among the people of different nations. They keep to a simple, purely vegetarian diet, just sufficient to keep body and soul together, beg their food from different houses and have neither attachment nor enmity towards any living being. The detailed rules for their conduct are given in the Acharanga utra, the Dashavarkalika, the Uttaradhyayana and the Tattvarthadhigama Sutra etc.
Shravakas and Shravikas - male and female householders--are also expected to follow these vows, though in a somewhat modified form. They have to practise some other importart vows also. They take
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