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B.5.13
Discipline for Spiritual, Social and Family Welfare
Dr. Meenal Katarnikar
Introduction: The Jain community is known as the 'Catūrvidha Sangha, i.e. the fourfold community. But this community' denotes a unique concept. It is neither merely a social group nor association, nor is it a multitude of sages. In the Jaina context, community or sangha consists of monks, nuns, and lay-male and female followers. Categorically, the followers are divided into two, viz. the ascetics and the householders, and these two groups in turn are divided into two, viz. male and female. This two-fold classification into the ascetics and householder is detrimental in deciding the ethical standards, code of conduct, and religiousspiritual authority of the followers. Whereas the monks and nuns are supposed to practice all the rules of conduct in absolute discipline without any single concession, the householder males and females can practice these rules with same 'concession'. It is, therefore, necessary to discuss the discipline in Jainism in two different, though related contexts, viz. spiritual and mundane.
Discipline for Spiritual Welfare: Being the ascetic tradition, Monks and Nuns do possess central position in the Jaina community. Absolute renunciation is as regarded as the only ideal path of life to achieve the goal of liberation, and the one who follow this path, are technically termed as Sramana. The Sanskrit word Šramana turns as 'Samand in Prakrit. Samana is the one who has feeling of equanimity towards all living beings, regards himself responsible for his/her selfemancipation and is successful in extinguishing all emotions, passions etc. The only goal of the life of a 'Śramana is the 'spiritual liberation, i. e. the total annihilation of all activities. In order to achieve this goal, the Jaina religious tradition has prescribed a set of rules which is known as 'Vinaya', i. e. 'the code of conduct for Ascetics'. This set of rules includes:
1. Five Great Vows : Mahāvratas. 2. Three Controls
: Gūptis. 3. Five kinds of Carefulness: Samitis.
The systematization of this code of conduct occurs in Tattvārtha-sūtra of Vācaka Umāsvāti in various chapters. However, in Agama Literature, especially in Uttarādhyayana-sūtra, the
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