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Aparigraha or Non-Possession Etymologically Parigraha means to be bound from all sides. Absence of Parigraha is Aparigraha. Parigraha (infatuation or Murchha) is attachment to possessions.'° Attachment by its name itself takes us away from our inherent nature. Such a person perpetually chases with full energy in the acquisition of other things first, then hoarding and protecting them. In such a case, the individual is obsessed with attachment to possessions completely and forgets his own inherent nature and enhances his pains.
The first discourse of Mahavira in Sutrakritanga (second limb of the twelve fold Jain canons having sermons of Mahavira) starts with a directive, namely: One should know what causes the bondage and what removes it. Then in the subsequent four verses&o Mahavira replies:
He, who owns even a small property in living or lifeless things or consents to others holding it, will not be delivered from misery. If a man kills living beings or causes other men to kill them, or consent to their killing them, his iniquity will go on increasing.
A sinner, who makes the interest of his kinsmen and companions his own, will suffer much; for the number of those whose interest he takes to heart constantly increases.
All his wealth and his nearest relations cannot protect him (from future misery); knowing this and the value of life, he will get rid of karma.
Thus owning of even the smallest possessions is a cause of unhappiness as the same serves as a fuel to ignite desire for more. Even human body itself is possession of soul. The well known story of a saint is a good example to understand this concept.
Once a saint went to the forest and left behind everything including clothes to meditate on his true self in the forest. After some time his closest follower came and requested him to please use a
Pg.254 Gandhi & Jainism
