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A Hand Book of Jainology
THE SEVENTEEN VIRTUES (INTERNAL OF A BHAVA SHRAVAK)
They are related to the following:
Woman, wealth, samsar, the senses, sensual cravings, occupations, household management, thinking about life, jinagam spiritual activities like rendering charity, detachment, being free from prejudice, realising the transitory nature of things, enjoyment for the sake of others, living in samsar with the attitude of neutrality.
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(1) You must consider passion for women as the cause for spiritual ruin, for mental perplexity and for sufferings in hell and so you should not be attached to women.
(2) Wealth is the mine of calamities, worries and quarrels. Realising this truth you must not covet wealth.
(3) All the senses are the enemies of the soul. They push the jiva on the path of spiritual decline. Realising this you must keep them under your control.
(4) Samsar or the cycle of birth and death inspires sin, It is sinful and it impels the jiva to commit sin. Moreover, it brings only endless sorrows. Realising this, you must try to be liberated from it.
*(5) You must not have any attachment for such things as sound, form, taste, smell and touch.
(6) The occupations of life are harmful to the jiva. Realising this, you must engage yourself in a minimum number of activities.
(7) Residence in a house or in a family is full of violence for the Shatkayas and it embodies the eighteen sources of sinful activities. Realising this and realising that such a life is like life in prison, you must make your best endeavours to discard it and to receive initiation into the Sadhudharma.
(8) You must realise that samyaktva is more precious than the gem Chintamani and that it is absolutely difficult to attain. Therefore, you must always engage yourself in
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