ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

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

Page 79

burns a matter object. Penance in Jain philosophy is considered to be very harsh, specially the external by others. Fasting, gaining self-control etc is so tough to others that even Buddha called his path as Madhyama-mārga or the middle path between Jains and Vedāntins.
2.2. Non-possession (aparigraha) /Giving up /Detachment. Elimination of bondage The word parigraha means pari (from all four sides) + graha (bind) i.e. the things or objects which bind us (soul) from all sides. Jains call it as infatuation (mūrcchā) or attachment / attraction.
Possession means the infatuation or attachment or a feeling of mine (and not me) in other objects (besides the soul)11. Mahāvirā calls bondage (bandha) as parigraha and cause of all our ills12. Possession is described as of two types namely internal (4 passions namely anger, pride, greed and deceit and nine secondary passions) and external. External are further classified as living beings (family, servants, animals etc.) and non-living beings (wealth, houses, cloths, ornaments etc.). Ascetics are asked to give up all types of possessions and become aparigrahi or nirgrantha while for laity, who is involved in worldly pursuits, the order is to limit their possessions according to needs without developing attachment with them.13
Apollonius Tyaneaus (Greek traveller 1st century CE) beautifully describes Jains as follows:
'In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it; inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them; possessing everything, but possessed by nothing.'
Spiritually speaking, it means that all bondages of soul, i.e. karmas of all types are to be eliminated so that the soul just becomes pure soul and enjoy its true nature i.e. bliss and knowledge (ñanānanda).
11 Tattvärtha-sutra, verse VII. 17'mürccha parigrahah' 12 Cittamantamalittań vă, parigijjha kisāmavi annan và anujāņai, evan dukkha na muccai i.e. 'He who owns even a little live or non living beings as possessions or even has a feeling of mine towards them; or supports /praises others who have them, can never get the release of his soul from pain/bondage'. Sūtrakrtänga , chapter 1 verse 2 13 Bujhejja tiuttejjā, bandhaņaṁ parijāniyā.... Acquire the true knowledge. Knowing the bondage of soul, then try to get release from the same etc and explained in Sūtrak tanga, chapter 1 verse 1 to 8
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0