Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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B.4.4.1
Detachment (Vītarāgata) for Householders (Śrāvaka)
Dr. Shugan C. Jain
Tina bhuvana kā sāra vītarāga vijñānatā Śiva svarūpa sukhakara namaho triyoga saṁhāraka/CD1
Science of detachment is the essence of the three worlds because it results in attaining liberation and so I bow to it with full control of my three activities (MBS).
Samyama, Svadhyāya and Sāmāyika are the three methods which I feel enable us, the householders to enhance our progress in spiritual purification. Why?
Samyama is to enhance our control over sensual urges. A vitarāgs is also known as Jina or Jinendra i.e. the one who has completely won his sensual urges i.e. not disturbed or allured by them. Provision of external penance, like fasting, unodarī, rasa-prityāga etc. are to enhance self-restraint. Similarly the concept of gunavratas and śikṣāvrats as part of householder's vows are given to enhance our self-restraint.
Svādhyāya is the study of self. Normally it implies reading a holy text about sva (self/soul) and ways to attain supreme self state. The various aspects of svādhyāya as mentioned in Jain literature involve study, repeated study, asking questions, contemplation and teaching as seen in the DV verse:
Kundakunda suggests that in this fifth ārā, we should focus on this which is a part of internal penance just before meditation as auspicious and pure meditation are difficult to practice.
Sāmāyika is svādhyāya to large extent. Sāmāyika is the essence of the Jain spiritual and ethical practice. Accordingly it is included as the 1st essential duty (1st out of six āvaśyakas),
XXXVI/10
(i) Sajjhāye vā niyuttena savvadukkhavimokkhane, Uttaradhyayana Sūtra (ii) Bhagavati Aradhana 107 (iii) Uttaradhyayana Sūtra XXVI/37 (iv) Ibid. XXIX/18 (V) Brihadkalpa-bhāsya 1224 (vi) Uttarādhyayana Sūtra XXX/34 2 (i) Sūtrakrtānga 1.2.2.17 (ii) Ibid. 1.2.2.20 (iii) Mülācara, 23
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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