ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

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

Page 297

these senses. Control over the senses is the greatest victory of a person. Even the taste of one sense can destroy a person. A deer is killed for his love to music; a cobra is caught for his interest in musical sound, an elephant due to his pleasure in physical touching, fish due to its taste and the black bee for its addiction to smell. What to speak of a person who is addicted to the taste of all the senses.
There is always boundary to protect the field, the house, the same way there must be restraint on the activities of a person. The internal and external restraint always helps people in their lives. Antaranga and Bahiranga restraint both constitute the virtues of glory to a person. His rise in worldly progress and spiritual development make him righteous person. He is an uncrowned king with highest perfection in life.
The great scholar Banarasi Dass in his Nataka Samayasāra says
"Gyānakalā jinake ghata jagī, ve jagmāhi sahaja virāgi | gyānī magana vişaya sukhamāhi, yaha viparia sambhave nāhi" |
means those people who have developed the highest knowledge of restraint in their hearts they can easily tread over the path of detachment (Vairāgya) and if otherwise he makes merry in sensual pleasures he is not to be called the high souled. It means he is deceiving the people in his deceitful garb of restraint.
Gandhiji went to England to participate in Round Table Conference. There he met political dignitaries. Gandhiji was asked to tell the qualities of good leader. Gandhiji told to control over self and to remember God at every step.
Pandit Todar Mal says, “to follow non-violence, truth, non-theft, celibacy, non-attachment and to control over anger, pride, māyā and greed is itself restraint observance- Samyam.
Dayanta says, "Always control over five senses, and keep properly the restraint jewel for there are thieves in the forms of various pleasures (Kāya chhanan pratipal, pañcendriya mana vasa karo, samyam ratna samhāla vişaya chora bahu phirata Hain).
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0