ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 224

vow is practiced. Being possessed or parigraha, one cannot practice the other four vows. The pitiable state of today's society is visible in the context of aparigraha.
As per Sarvārthasiddhi, a householder sets limits to his possession and acquisition of wealth, houses or real estate on his own sweet will leading to his practice of the fifth aņūvratazo. On the other hand Kārtikeyanūprekşă says, one who reduces the passion greed, enjoying the stimulant of contentment, knowing all external possessions as perishable and sets limits on their possessions, is a practitioner of the fifth small vow'.21 Samantabhadra advocates 'accepting limits on the possessions and acquisition of ten types of external possessions and not more than the limit and then practice it is Parigraha-parimāņa-vrata."22 Gunabhadra (Atmānuśāsana) says, 'every living being in this world has such a large and deep well of desires that all the wealth and objects of the world cannot fill it. In such a situation what can be given to anyone to make him contented? Desire or lust for worldly possessions will keep on giving pain to them'. Similarly Daulat Ram in Adhyatāma-padāvalī says, 'Even acquiring the entire wealth of all the three worlds is insufficient to make one satisfied. One can only accrue the benefits of knowledge only after enjoying the nectar of contentment'.
Gita3 also says about protecting one from the ills of karmic bondage, 'A person, who tries to acquire material wealth in a normal manner, feeling contented with the same, not being affected by the occurrences of pains and pleasures, free from jealousies, maintaining equanimity is successes and failures; does not bind karmas.' Kautilya also in his doctrine of economics has justified only that much acquisition and possessions which are essential to discharge our worldly duties.
Jainācāryas, by equating the fifth small vow i.e. Parigraha-parimāņa-vrata as icchă parimāņa-vrata (vow to limit the desires), say, 'a person should limit his desires and then acquire possessions to satisfy them'. The golden rule for a laity to be happy is to limit his expenses within his income. To live within one's means is a big art. To emphasize this point,
20 Sarvārthsiddhi 7/20/701 21 Kartikeyanüprekṣā, gathā 18 22 Ratnakarandaśravakācāra 19 23 Gītā 4.22
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